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CRAWFORD'S STATUE OF FREEDOM. 
Crowning the Dome of the United States Capitol. 



THE 



FEDERAL CITY; 



-i 3 '' 

OB, 



Iks and Abouts of Washington. 



B"5?- S. I>1 ■W'2'ETia:, 

AUTHOB OF "IIABRY BRIGHT, THE DRUMUER BOY;" " I1IBLK STORIES IN 
BIBLli: WORDS," ETC., ETC. 



THIRD EDITION. 



WASHINGTON, D. C: 

Gmson Bbothers. 271 ano 273 PENNSTLVAiiu. Atbitos, 
1868. 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by 

GIBSON BROTHERS, 

In the Clerk'a OflSce of the District Court of the District of Columbia. 



rV 






^ly. ^auntiy.7nen , 

JIfoiti, ^aictA, ^aAt, and ^Wed^t, 

(Wla lam tAe '^OU ^lacj^;' 

^u^ (Maa/t 

^A dedicated l^u 

^'ie q^utAjai. 



i]S"troduotio:n". 

The City of Washington is far dearer to the nation's 
heart now than it was before the breaking out of the war 
of the Eebellion. 

The treasure expended, and the blood spilled, in its defence, 
have made it seem to patriots sacred as a shrine. " To want 
to know all about it," is a national longing, and to gratify this 
in some degree, is the design of the present book. 

Its divisions naturally fall into the following : — 
I. Book of the Capitol. 
II. The History of the White House and its inmates* 

III. Book of the Departments. 

IV. Book of the Military Hospitals in Washington 
during the war. 

V. History of the Institutions of Benevolence and 
Education, Churches, Theatres, etc., with items of general 

LOCAL interest. 

At the close of each general division an Index of Subjects 
will present at a glance, where the information may be found 
relative to any particular subject. 

An earnest endeavor has been made to obtain true informa- 
tion, while books, public documents, and files of newspapers, 
rather than the recollections of individuals, have been relied 
upon as deciding what is true. 

It is intended that the work shall be completed in ten 
numbers of 100 pages each. Each general division, however, 
will constitute in itself a book irrespective of the other 
divisions. 

(V) 



1 N T R O D U C T 1 O X . VI 

The chapters have been written at various times running 
througli a period of several years. The grand panorama of tlie 
war Avas enacted almost within sight and sound during a 
portion of that time — and the fitful flashes of actual attnck 
also really occurred. As a burning Bengal light throws a 
lurid glare over all, so streaks of war-paint fill in and enamel 
many pages. These attempted war-photographs of past events, 
are retained because it is believed that as historical reminis- 
cences they may be deemed interesting. 

If after editions of the work should be called for, corrections 
necessary to bring the information up to the time of the new 
issue will be made. 

s. D. w. 

MAY-DAY, WASniNGTON, D. C, 
18G5. 



List of Illustrations, 



Fkontispiece. Ciiawfouk's statuk of Fkekdom, crowning the Dome of the Uni...-d 
States Capitol. 

(j Photograph of the north-east view of the Capitol, with the Central Portico 
projected as it is designed to be when completed ; taken from a drawing by 
A. Sihonborn, in possession of the Architect of the Capitol Page 14 

Photograph of the west front of the Capitol, 1868 to face Page 22 

The Capitol of 18G8, east front Page 27 

Map of the City of Washington Pages 34, 35 

Allegorical group on Tympanum of Central East Portico , Page 45 

Statue of Peace, by Persico Page 48 

Statue of War, by Persico Page 49 

Clock in oW Hall of Representatives, by C. Franzoni Page 52 

Diagrani of the Rogers' Bronze Door Page 54 

The Capitol of 1825 Page t5 

Dijyjram of the floor of the Hall of the House of Representatives Page 8T 

Diagram of the floor of the United States Senate Chamber Page 89 

Plan of the main floor of the Capitol Page 99 



\ 



mS AND ABOUTS OF WASHINGTON, ETC. 



CHAPTER T. 

ARRTVAIi IN BALTIMORE EN ROUTE FOR WASHINGTON — DAYBREAK — 
CATHEDRAL SERVICE — RAILROAD RIDE TO "WASHINGTON — CONCERT 
IN CAPITOL GROUNDS — EASTERN AND WESTERN FRONTS OF THE 
CAPITOL — STATUE OP FREEDOM — TWILIGHT AND NIGHT — ALONE — 
PHANTASMAGORIA. 

The drip, drip, drip, of falling rain had ceased for about an 
hour. Home was behind — Washington lay before. 

" Baltimore ! " was announced in a rough voice by the con- 
ductor as he flung open the door, and the railroad car stopped. 
It was pitch dark and one o'clock in the morning. The passen- 
gers awake had been straining their eyes out of windows for 
some time into the darkness beyond. Frightful noises and 
belching flames were all around us: Pandemonium seemed 
broken loose. 

Here, volumes of flame threw out a lurid light, discovering 
strange figures that lit up horridly, hovering around pools of 
fire and brandishing fearful lookmg instruments. Then were 
heard awful groans, as of a monster in agony. Anon, it was 
dark. Beyond, burst other lurid flames, and noises of ponder- 
ous doors opened and shut. It seemed as if we had stopped 
at the very " Mouth of the Pit " described in John Bunyan's 
wonderful Dream Book. 

But out we had to get. The soil was mud. A net of raU 



18 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

road beneath our feet threatened to trip us at every step. Sev- 
eral locomotives ran distractingly up and down the tracks 
shrieking, or moaning, like fiends — their great fiery Cyclop 
eyes lighting the road a little space before them. After re- 
peated efforts we disentangled from these dangers and reached 
the pavement. 

A loyal refugee of Virginia, on his return home, concluded 
with me to walk about imtil morning. The prospect now was 
it would be clear — for, here, and there, a star had opened * its 
bright eye in the sky. "We gladly turned from the Depot, with 
the extensive Furnaces and Rolling Mills all nestled together, 
that had so forcibly revived early frightful associations. 

For a long while we wandered up and down the streets. The 
sudden appearance of " a soldier on guard " as we turned a 
corner, was at first startling. Ilis figure loomed out into 
gigantic size, and his bayonet, as the street gas-light fell upon 
it, glinted like a spear of vengeance through the gloom. It 
brought to mind that the War-wolf was " out " lapping the 
hearts' blood of our countrymen. Soldiers were stationed 
everywhere — ■ at the corners of the streets, at the banks, in the 
market houses, and at the depot stations. But for them our 
tramp would have proved well nigh solitary. 

Tired of walking we took refuge at the Eutaw House, and 
in a couple of big chairs in the reception saloon dozed away an 
hour of darkness. From here we were driven into the street 
a second time by servants, with swabs and pails of water, come 
long before daylight to clean the tiled floor of our retreat. 

Out-doors seemed darker and more dreary than before. 
Once we refreshed ourselves with sundry cups of coffee 
obtained of a turbaned fat mulatto woman in a market house, 
whose table of heavy refreshments was lighted by twin tallow 
dips, that flared and guttered in the open air. 

The star-gemmed veil of night at length slowly upraised ; — 
and morning broke beautifully over the fair city of the Patapsco. 
Rose - clouds, like banners flung out, hung in the sky. 
Kissed by the struggling beams of the young Day-god, beauty 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 19 

after beauty, gilded and made glorious, was revealed. When 
the sun's rays first fell, glancing back, on the tall monuments 
commemorative of heroes that shaft-like pierce the sky, it 
seemed strains of music must issue from them as thousands of 
years ago, at sunrise, came responsive from Memnon's statue, in 
Thebes, upon the banks of the old Nile : — but, all was still ! 
Almost oppressive was the profound morning's hush — ere the 
great city's jubilant day-cry and suppressed wail, in united 
voice, broke forth. 

In peaceful quiet long lines of stately houses emerged from 
out the indistinctness and swept over hill and plain, while 
humbler ones lay dotted all around. No trouble seemed to 
dwell within them. No blood - stains marked the doors of 
homes. All silent were the whispers of dread family secrets, 
that curdle the blood and chill hearts with fear. Sighs of 
suffering, and moans of breaking hearts were not audible to 
human ears. 

The cathedral bell rang out breaking the stillness. Through 
the streets, stealing along ghost-like in the early dawn, worship- 
ers bent their way towards where its over-arching Dome hung 
in mid air. With them we too entered the edifice. The hush ; 
— ■ the air of devotion ; — ■ the burning candles, lighting up 
pictures, that told of the suffering One who died for us, and pure 
flowers, amid whose scented breath mingled thoughts of the love 
of our All - Father ; — ■ the grand old Ritual, that for ages has 
soothed the sorrows and revived the hopes of poor humanity ; 
— all told forcibly upon the senses. Side by side kneeled 
gray haired men and fair maidens ; — the trembling weakness 
of widowed age alongside and supported by vigorous manhood, 
glorious in strength. Children's forms, too, were bowed in 
adoration ; while the Sister of Charity bent her mild, patient 
face close by her sable sister of African descent. Clouds 
of incense, that rose from silver censers, seemed like ascending, 
palpable, prayer. Protestant that I am, my heart of hearts 
joined in the worship. 

The service over garish daylight flooded the streets. The 



20 THEFEDERALCITY. 

city was waking up, and every moment tlie pulses of its life 
beat faster. On each face you met was written the one anxious 
question, " What news to day ? " — and " On to Washington ! " 
seemed the purpose, if not the cry, of the moving multitudes 
directing towards that depot station. Trains, some of them 
filled with regiments of soldiers, started from there, again, and 
again, during the day. 

At 3.20 the afternoon passenger train started. It was full 
to overflowing. Soldiers' wives with children, contractors, 
politicians, artists, mechanics, all crowded together, dashed 
along upon the iron track towards the Mecca of their patriotic 
pilgrimage. Uncle Samuel has still many affectionate relatives. 
and each one of our motley party seemed desirous of a chance 
of helping himself to something out of his big fat pockets. 

Beautiful was the country through which we sped on our 
way. At intervals along the road, within hailing distances of 
each other, stood a soldier in arms, keeping guard. Recently 
constructed earth-works, long wooden shanties, and white tents 
of other encampments marked the landscape. The sun flashed 
on glittering bayonets of soldiers drilling in the distance. The 
roll of the drum answered back the shrill whistle of our 
engine ; occasionally the dull roar of artillery was heard, and 
the smoke rolling up discovered where a party was at practice. 
Above all, and over all, from flag-stafl' signalling to flag-staffj 
floated out, cheering the sight, the " Stars and Stripes." 

The Relay House was soon reached and passed. It looked 
small, a miniature of Avhat I expected to see. Annapolis Junc- 
tion, too, was not long after, left behind. 

Between and around the beautiful hills that environ Wash- 
ington, the train glided, and coiled, rattling, on its rapid way. 
No one in the cars appeared to know when it was we entered 
the limits of the District ; — Avhicli occurs at Bladensburg 
Station — - and I kept an eager look - out for a first glimpse 
of the Capitol. It was not, however, until almost upon it, that 
the noble building rose into view. A few more minutes, and 
the train entered the long, low, and truth compels me to add, 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 21 

mean - looking Depot ; and we had arrived at the Federal 
Metropolis. 

I left the noisy scrambling throng, and hastened away, carpet- 
bag in hand, to gaze on the Capitol. The Depot is within 
short distance of it, and I soon stood opposite its West Front. 
This, although line, is not the principal Front, nor is it so im- 
posing as that : yet it is the one with which strangers are 
most familiar. It is, in fact, the back, instead of the front, of 
the building. 

The grounds west of the Capitol, are eminently beautiful; 
nature and the highest art combine to make them such. It 
was here, that, besides the pleasure of seeing and admiring 
them, an unexpected enjoyment was in store. In Washington. 
on Wednesdays and Saturdays, during the warm months 
towards evening, there is an out-door concert given, to which 
all are admitted who choose to go. These concerts are held 
alternately in these grounds and in those attached to the 
President's House. 

It was now sweet May time. The grounds west of the 
Capitol occupy the ascent of the Hill, and are filled with mag- 
nificent trees, flower beds and fountains. Noble walks, flagged 
or gravelled, intersect them in all directions. Comfortable 
seats, underneath trees, are scattered about every where, and 
the bright grass spread out a magnificent carpet. The 
softest verdure velveted the sides of the terraces that rise one 
above the other until the building itself is reached. It was the 
grandest of all concert saloons. 

A large marble basin, filled with water, in which are hund- 
reds of gold and silver fish, is just below the highest terrace — 
and here, almost constantly, stand persons gazing at the grace- 
ful creatures swimming about in their beautiful home. Just 
above this basin, upon the Capitol, beneath the Dome, floated 
the " Star spangled Banner." 

The grounds were filled with crowds of elegantly dressed 
ladies and beautiful children, officers in glittering uniforms, 
citizens and soldiers. On an elevated stand, half- way between 



22 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

two fountains, Avas ranged in a circle the far famed Marine 
Band from the Navy Yard. At intervals they performed most 
exquisite music. They were playing " Hail Columbia 1 '' as I 
approached. Promenade and music, in turns, succeeded each 
other. 

A space on the ground, near the musicians, was kept clear, 
and here, when it pleased them, children danced in joyous 
abandon, as favorite tunes struck their fancy. Near them stood, 
looking on, a poor crippled boy, with one leg gone ; and, lean- 
ing against a tree, a girl of twelve or thirteen summers on 
crutches — but smiles played upon both their faces. 

On an eminence, watching the scene with intense interest, 
stood two Indian chiefs, of a deputation in town, dressed in 
their half- barbaric costume, blankets, paint, and feathers. 

The whole scene, upon which soon fell the rays of the setting 
sun, was fairy - like. Gay groups passed in and out among the 
trees — there was the sight and scent of flowers — sunshine 
flashed upon the sparkling fountains, the grass, the trees, and 
the glittering throng. Birds flew from tree to tree, and joined 
their voices to the concert. Behind rose the green hill crowned 
with its tiara of whi te marble — the Capitol ; its myriad 
windows, like another Aladdin's Palace, all a-glow with burn- 
ished gold — the last effort of the god of day to fling back 
a kiss of flame upon the fairest of earth's stuctures ere he 
died. 

Closing symphonies of harmony soon floated in the air. 
There stole upon the ear, and into the heart, the sweet touch- 
ing strains of " Home, sweet Home ! " and, immediately follow- 
ing that, the finale of all these concerts, — "Yankee Doodle." 

I saw in fancy my own home far away, hundreds of miles, 
and at its windows, overlooking a camp ground, little children 
standing, looking in vain for the coming of their father. Their 
mother sadly calls them to their evening meal. That evening 
meal, T fear, will be wet with bitter tears. My own eyes 
blinded with them. 



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BOOK OF THE CAPITOL 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 23 

After the concert was over, and the crowd dispersed, I wan- 
dered around to the East Front of the Capitol. Numberless 
blocks of marble, and tons of iron castings, lay scattered about 
upon the ground. There remains an immense amount of work 
still to do upon the new extensions as well as upon the original 
central building. 

Over seventy years ago General Washington laid the corner 
stone of the Capitol, September 18, 1793, and wliat with 
repairs and additions, it is not yet completed. The British 
damaged greatly the two wings of the centre building, which 
were about the whole of the structure that had then been 
erected, when they set fire to the public buildings during the 
last war. 

Dr. William Thornton was the designer of the first " plan '" of 
the Capitol. He was rather an amateur than a practical 
architect, and was a man of acknowledged though eccentric 
genius. Hallet, Hadfield, Hoban, Latrobe, and Bulfinch, with 
others, in turns, worked upon it. It is under the supervision 
of Thomas U. Walter, Esq., the architect of Girard College, 
that the work is now steadily progressing. * It will require a 
mint of money to finish. 

Outside of a grotip of trees, upon a wooden platform, a few 
steps beyond, was temporarily placed the Statue of Freedom, 
modelled by Crawibrd, to surmount the Dome. It is a bronze 
hollow casting of colossal size, weighing fifteen thousand 
pounds. 

The figure is that of a female grasping a sheathed sword 
with one hand, while the other rests on the American shield. 
A circlet of but nine stars surrounds the head. The cap or 
helmet she wears has an Eagle's beak fronting its crest, and is 
ornamented with magnificent feathers, some stretching behind. 
The countenance of the statue is majestic, while the repose of 
conscious power manifested is sublime. There is also an earnest, 
human-look, of the eyes that is marvelous ; they seem to pierce; 
The robe gathered gracefully, is furred and gemmed with pearls. 

* Edward Clark, Esq., succeeded Mr. Walter, in Sept., 1865i 



U4 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

and fastened at the waist with something like a brooch, on 
which the letters U. S. are interlaced in cipher. 

Its position above the Dome, where it has since been placed, 
is over a globe surrounded by a belt inscribed ^vith the motto, 
" E Plurihus Unurar Up, near four hundred feet, in the air, 
its wondrous beauty and artistic power cannot be perceived by 
the keenest sight. It is only by aid of glasses an idea can be 
gained of its rare exquisite perfection. It seems a pity it 
should stand so far away. For one I am glad to have seen 
it again and again before it was placed upon its proud high 
" look - out " among the clouds. 

In pale, majestic, though unfinished beauty, the Capitol stood 
out solemn in the still evening. The middle Portico, where 
the Presidents are inaugurated, with its forest of columns and 
groups of statuary, fell into deeper and deeper shadow. The 
whole grand magnificence of the East Front of the Capitol no 
one can fully estimate unless he sees it. It cannot be described. 



I sat down, tired out, on an iron bench, under an immense 
horse - chestnut tree, in full view of the Capitol. Behind, tow- 
ered above my head the gigantic statue. Twilight, then night, 
came on, silently, steadily. The new moon cast a feeble light, 
and in the darkened sky the stars came out. 

Time passed away without heed. The building still stood 
out white in the dim light — but, as if touched by a magician's 
wand, it had changed, in the twinkling of an eye, and ap- 
peared in finished beauty. The Dome, perfected, hung up 
among the stars ; the globe, over it, surmounted by the God- 
dess of Freedom, at whose feet I had been sitting but a 
moment before. Vividly defined was the intense human - look 
out of its eyes, as was also the inscription on the belt sur- 
rounding the globe. The letters seemed written in characters 
of fire. 

I gazed on, wondering ; while, still further up, among the 
stars, I saw in the sky the American Eagle, with wings out- 
stretched wide over all, keeping watch and ward. 



TH-E FEDERAL CITY, 25 

Darkness deepened. The wind sighed and sobbed. The 
clouds drove furiously, — blotting out the stars. Then, 
rising slo^yly, in many a tortuous fold, a scaled Snake, 
its eyes glaring cunning and hate, wound up the fair structure 
until it reached the form of Freedom and enveloped it within 
its scaly folds. Trembling I looked ; — ■ heart was chill, and 
breath almost suspended. 

The Snake's crested head stood erect, and, ever and anon, its 
neck receding, lithe and thin, warily shifted. Sheeted light- 
ning, like curtains, hung round the heavens ; — and, where 
earth had been, now spread out only the wide, wide, surg- 
ing sea. 

Suddenly through the air rang the wild scream of the Eagle. 
His glance flashed flame, and beak and talons were irate. 
Wheeling, in mighty swoop, he fell upon the vile thing and 
tore it from its resting place. 

Then, in the air again, wheeling round and round in endless 
varying circles, with clang of wings and screams the Eagle 
sailed ; and still he shrieked and wailed. The Snake's coils 
were twined around him. Feather and scale, blended together, 
shone in the lurid wavering light. The Eagle often casting 
back his head, with beak and talons assailed the Snake that 
sought to pierce his heart. Far beneath floated shattered 
golden flumes ; and, where the Eagle's talons struck, down 
fell scales, thick and fast, gleaming like falling sparks. 

Fierce fight ; — with many and sudden changes. At times, 
the Snake twisted round the Eagle's neck ; and, faint with 
pain, his wings languidly fluttered. But, in vast might, he 
again shook his unconquerable wings, as in despair, and 
with his strong sinewy neck broke in sudden shock the living 
coils. 

Time lengthened out, and on. At length, bloody, stark, and 
torn — the feeblest quivering of its loathsome life all stilled 
— the Snake, hung high in air awhile, upheld by the victor 
Eagle, was dropped into the far sea beneath, with splashing 
noise. 



26 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

Majestically the Eagle rose again to liis former position. 
Again spread forth his wings, and re-asssumed his loving gaze 
upon the structure beneath. 

The Aveight of a giant hand fell upon me, and I started in 
affright. It was one of the police ofl&cers attached to the 
Capitol awaking me, for I had fallen asleep, In ray hand was 
a newspaper, in which I had read, for the first time, a portion 
of Shelley's "Eevolt of Islam." How far the Poem affected 
my fancy, even when dreaming, others can determine. 



Since that night, years have passed, crowded with memorable 
events in our nation's history. Years of war, blood, and tears. 
The "stars and bars" the symbol of rebel arrogance, which 
with lurid glare affrighted Freedom, has faded out forever, and 
over one wide Republic now Avaves undisputed, and with 
vivifying power, the " Stripes and Stars." 

The Capitol too lias since then grown into near completeness. 
The Extensions and Dome have been built, and in grand beaut}^ 
it now presents the following dimensions. 

The building covers an area of 153,112 square feet, or more 
than three and a half acres. I^ength of Capitol, 751 feet, 4 
inches. Height of base line above tide water, 89'' SQ^': 

Height of Dome above tide water, 377 feet, 3|- inches. Above 
base line on east front, 287 feet, 5^ inches. Above balustrade 
of building, 217 feet, 11-| inches. 

Each Extension is l'i2 feet, 8 inches front on the east and 
west, by 238 feet, 10 inches in depth exclusive of Porticoes 
and steps. The corridors connecting them with the original 
Capitol are 44 feet in length. 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 81 



EXTENT AND BOUNDARIES OF 

THE CITY OF WASHINGTON. 

According to the Act of the State of Maryland " Concern- 
ing the Territory of Columbia and the City of Washington," 
the Federal City is thus bounded : 

" The President of the United States directed a city to be laid 
out, comprehending all the lands beginning on the east side of 
Rock Creek, at a stone standing in the middle of the road lead- 
ing from Georgetown to Bladensburg ; thence along the middle 
of the said road to a stone standing on the east side of the 
Reedy Branch of Goose Creek ; thence south-easterly, making 
an angle of sixty-one degrees and twenty minutes with the 
meridian, to a stone standing in the road leading from Bladens- 
burg to the Eastern Branch Ferry ; then south to a stone eighty 
poles north of the east and west line already drawn from the 
mouth of Goose Creek to the Eastern Branch; then east, 
parallel to the said east and west line, to the Eastern Branch ; 
then, with the waters of the Eastern Branch, Potomac River 
and Rock Creek, to the beginning." 

Mr. George Watterston in his " Guide to Washington " 
gives us the following admirable summary : 

" The city extends from north-west to south-east about four 
miles and a half, and from east to south-west about two miles 
and a half Its circumference is fourteen miles ; the aggregate 
length of the streets is one hundred and ninety-nine miles, and 
of the avenues sixty-five miles. The avenues, streets and open 
spaces contain three thousand six hundred and four acres, and 
the public reservations, exclusive of reservations ten, eleven, 



32 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

and twelve, since disposed of for privote purposes, five hundred 
and thirteen acres. 

" The whole area of the squares of the city, amounts to one 
hundred and thirty-one million six hundred and eighty-four 
thousand one hundred and seventy-six square feet, or three 
thousand and sixteen acres ; one half of which, fifteen hundred 
and eight acres, was reserved for the use of the United States, 
and the remaining half assigned to the original proprietors." 



33 










Ibbhibbbbr^ 





■an 







References to the Map. | 



Capitol, 

Prt^ideat't House, 
Patent-Ojjice. 
SiniOtsoniun Infttitution, 
Wanhin^tOH Monmnent, 
National Observatory, 
IfttittU atatKii Antvuul, 
Navy Yard, 
Asylum, 
Voiti/resgional Burying 

Ground, 
State Department. 
Treasury Departmtnt, 
War Departmeut. 
Navy VepartmeHt, 
Peimoti-OJJice, 
City Uatl. 
Hospital, 
Jail, 

Post-OJlce, 

Governmeitt Oraen-houtntB^ 
Itailroad itf-pot, 
i'eititett/iaru. 







THE FEDERAL CITY. 37 



CHAPTER II. 

GENERAL PLAN OF THE CITY — UNIMPROVED GROUND EAST OP THE 
CAPITOL — EAST CENTRAL PORTICO * — STATUARY — SIGNOR PERSICO 
— GREENOUGH — GREAT BRONZE DOOR DESIGNED BY ROGERS — 
EAST CAPITOL STREET — MILITARY ASPECT OF WASHINGTON — STREAKS 
OF WAR PAINT. 

It was the design of the Frenchman L'Enfant, who originated 
the plan of the Federal City, that the Capitol should occupy its 
centre. From where it stands the streets are counted east, 
west, north, and south. Several of the Avenues also diverge 
from here, at equi-distant points. This development, however, 
so iar as the " building up " of the city was concerned, an un- 
foreseen circumstance frustrated. 

The owners of the high ground lying east of the Capitol 
and facing which is the main front of the building, raised the 
price of their land to such an exorbitant sum that it was not 
" t ken up." That, lying down the Hill, west and behind the 
Capitol towards the President's House, was built upon instead. 
It is along this stretches Pennsylvania Avenue. Jutting out 
from that, in all directions, streets are built up, and here lies 
the main portion of the present city. 

The section lying east, originally the most eligible, remains 
for the most part unimproved — an expanse of unbuilt build- 
ing lots interspersed with some few fine old houses and 
occasional rows of shabby tenements — an instance of over- 
reaching greed it would be vain to hope would teach others an 
useful lesson. A considerable portion of this land, I am 
informed, was eventually sold for taxes ; but, after litigation, 
was gotten back again by heirs of the family originally own- 
ing it. 



38 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

The streets of Washington cross eacli other at right angles 
as did those of ancient Babylon, and as is also the case in 
modern Philadelphia. Those running east and west are called 
after the letters of the Alphabet, B, C, D, Streets, etc. ; those 
north and south, First, Second, Third, Streets, etc. 

North, South, and East Capitol Streets intersect each other 
at right angles at the centj-e of the Capitol ; and, with an 
imaginary line continued west, divide the city into four 
sections. So there is a Third Street East, and a Third Street, 
West ; a C Street North, and a G Street South, and so on, 
throughout. 

The Avenues, named after the different States in the Union 
at the time the city was laid out, are broad noble roads that 
cross these streets diagonally. They point in almost every con- 
ceivable direction. 

There is no West Capitol Street. Where that would open 
there are continuous gardens, under the care of government, 
for propagating plants and trees. These are extensive, and 
join the grounds surrounding the Smithsonian Institute, which 
again connect with those attached to the President's House. 
This tract of land is never to be built upon, and is called 
" The Mall." When the original plan for its improvement is 
carried out — trees planted, and circuitous roads cut through 
it — there will be here a beautiful drive of several miles, as 
well as shaded walks and flowing fountains. 

The way of numbering the houses in Washington, appears, 
to a stranger, to be guided by no established rule. They seem 
pitched on above the doors, as the caprice or fancy of neigh- 
borhoods or individuals dictated. Even old residents look 
aghast in their perplexity when asked about " the rule." An 
obliging gentleman attached to the Post Office, however, gave 
me the following information with regard to the matter : — 

Streets running north and south commence numbering at 
their northern terminus. 

Those running east and west number from Georgetown 
towards Washington. 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 3^ 

The numbers on tlie Avenues begin at their most northern 
starting points. 

This intricate arrangement, added to the straggling manner 
in which the city has been built up ; — lone houses planted in 
open fields, and what the number would be guessed at, until 
surrounded by others, whose doors indicate their own accuracy 
and the mistake of the pioneer squatter ; — will account some- 
what for the inextricable confusion that exists. A thorough 
reform of the whole system is greatly needed. 

East Capitol Street was intended to have been the grand 
palatial street of the Federal City. It starts opposite the east- 
ern centre of the Capitol ; a grand wide road that leads on to 
the Anacostia or " eastern branch " of the Potomac. As you 
traverse it and look back the vista is terminated by the 
columned Eastern Portico and cloud - seated Dome of the 
Capitol. This broad street, however, is only built up a short 
distance, and the houses, for the most part, are mean-looking. 
The open country is soon reached. 

This, now, in 1863, is occupied by camps, parade grounds, and 
hospitals. Lincoln Hospital, capable of accommodating 3,500 
invalids, is here. Emory Hospital, also of very extensive 
ability, is its near neighbor. Camp Barry, the artillery instruc- 
tion camp, lies in close proximity, as does the extended parade 
ground, where grand reviews, sometimes of many thousands of 
troops, are held. 



THE EAST CENTRAL PORTICO OF 
THE CAPITOL. 

This Portico is grandly imposing. The pediment rests 
on massive columns of stone of the Corinthian order. The 
shafts of these columns are thirty feet high. There are rows 
of them. The three flights of brown steps of this Portico con- 
trast with the steps of the Porticoes of the "extensions," 
which are of white marble. 



40 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

The tympanum, (those unacquainted with architectural terms 
would probably call it the " gable centre-piece " of the Portico,^ 
is ornamented with a group of allegorical figures, in alto relievo, 
of colossal size, the idea of President John Quincy Adams. 
The artist who executed it was Signer Persico, an Italian. 

The central figure represents the Genius of America with a 
shield in her right hand, on which are the letters U. S. A. The 
shield rests lightly on an altar, on which, in an oaken wreath, is 
inscribed, "July 4, 1776." Behind her is a spear. Hope 
stands on her left, resting on an anchor. America directs the 
attention of Hope to Justice, who holds in her right hand 
the Constitution of the United States, and in the other the 
scales. The American Eagle, in the act of winging his flight, 
at the command of America, is the fourth figure of the group. 

Considering the soft porous nature of the material — mere 
sand-stone, afterwards painted white — out of which this work 
was sculptured, it reflects great credit on the artist. 

Above the door, that enters the Eotunda from the Portico, 
are two figures, hovering in air, crowning with a wreath of 
laurel the bust of Washington. They represent Fame and Peace. 
It is a hass -relief, in stone, executed by Signor Oapellano. 

On each side of this door stands in a niche, a colossal figure 
chiseled out of Carrara marble. That on the north represents 
War ; that on the south side Peace. They are original concep- 
tions of Signor Persico. 

The figure of War grasps in his right hand a sword, in the 
other a shield. The brow has an angry expression, as if suffer- 
ing from a sense of conscious wrong, rather than a brute fierce 
or ferocious look. It has marked on it, also, a deterpained 
bearing, as well as consciousness of power, with the will, too, 
to punish the wrong, and defend the right. His costume is 
Eoman ; and his belt and tunic are ornamented with symbols 
of the victims offered to him. 

Peace is a female figure, a maiden, in simple, flowing robes, 
with sandaled feet, and bearing in her hand a fruit-bearing 
olive branch, that she holds out with a gentle, winning smile. 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 41 

The expression of her face is benign and majestic. The 
drapery aronnd the figure is very graceful, and there peeps out 
from its folds, as an ornament, a single acorn. 

Two blocks, on the sides of the staircase of the Portico, are 
occupied by groups of statuary. One of these represents the 
Discovery, and the other the Settlement, of the country. The 
first is by Persico, the latter by Greenough. 

The group of the Discovery consists of two figures ; Colum- 
bus and an Indian woman. Columbus stands foremost, and 
exultant, upholding a globe ; the woman gazes at him in startled 
terror, and, in an almost crouching attitude, fixes her earnest 
anxious eyes upon him. There is intense life, and earnestness, 
expressed in every line of this piece of sculpture. 

The group by Greenough, illustrating the Settlement of the 
Country, is also called " Civilization." It presents a scene of 
American pioneer life, and consists of five figures. An Amer- 
ican Indian, tomahawk in hand, is in life struggle wdth the 
father ; the wife, with a babe, in agony awaits the issue ; and 
beside them, eager to take part in the fight, is a faithful dog. 
So life-like is this work in all its details, and so thrilling 
the subject, that the looker on is cheated momentarily into 
the belief that the conflict will proceed, and expects to see 
the attitudes of the figures change. 

Greenough was engaged eight years in executing this work. 
It was finished in 1851, and is cut out of Serravezza marble. 
Signor Persico originally had the order to prepare the group 
to occupy this platform, and started for Italy with this purpose 
in view. 

The East Central Portico measures 160 feet front, and is 
crowned with a pediment of 80 feet span. It is ornamented 
with 24 pillars and 12 pilasters. Its projection with the steps 
extends 65 feet. 

The centre or Rotunda portion of the original Capitol, was 
commenced in 1818, and finished in 1827. It cost up to that 
date $957,647 35. - 



42 THE FEDERAL CITY 



OREENOUGH's statue of WASHINGTON. 

This Statue, at present, is placed in tlie square opposite the 
Eastern Front of the Capitol, and faces the Central Portico. 
For some years it stood in the centre of the Rotunda. "Whether 
it will again occupy that position, when the Rotunda is finished, 
I am unable to say. Such, however, was the original intention 
with regard to it. The far more lofty ceiling of the present 
chamber removes, in great part, the objection formerly urged, 
" that, it seemed to fill up so much space." 

The figure is about twelve feet in height, and the whole 
occupies a massive pedestal. It weighs fourteen tons. On 
three sides the granite pedestal is the proud eulogy on Wash- 
ington, familiar to every American, first in war — first 

IN peace — FIRST IN THE HEARTS OF HIS COUNTRYMEN. 

Washington is represented sitting in majesty. His person 
is nude to the waist. The right arm, and lower portions of 
the body, are draped. He holds in his left hand a sheathed 
sword, and with his right hand points towards heaven. The 
likeness, though huge, is striking, and there is great poetical 
grandeur in the whole figure. 

His chair is ornamented with the acanthus leaf, and lions* 
heads. A small figure of Columbus leans against its back, 
and thus connects the idea of America with Europe. Opposite, 
and also leaning against the back, is an Indian chief, of the 
same size, indicating the condition" of the country at the time 
of its discovery. 

On the right of the chair, in basso relievo, is Phaston in his 
fiery car and steeds, allegorically representing the rising sun, — 
the crest of the national arms of America, — and illustrating 
the line, 

"Magnus ab integro saaeclorum nascitur ordo."* 

* The English of this motto is : — 

"An august course of ages starts anew." 



\ 



THE FEDERAL CITY 43 

The Genii of North and South America are represented on 
the left side of the chair, also in basso relievo. That of North 
America is under the form of Hercules strangling the serpent. 
That of South America, as Iphiclus, stretched on the ground, 
shrinks from the contest. The motto here illustrated, is : — 

"Incipe parve puer cui non risere parentes." * 

The following inscription is on the back of the chair : — 

SIMULACRUM ISTUD 

MAGNUM LIBERTATI3 EXEMPLmf, 

NEC SINE IPSA DURATURUM. 

HORATIUS GREEN OUGH 

FACIEBAT. 

In English this inscription is, 

"This Statue cast in Freedom's stately form 
And by her e'er upheld." 

"Horatio Greenough Sculptor." 

No statue about the Oapitol has given rise to so much ani- 
madversion as this one. Many -who see it, are loud in their 
censure of it. Others, again, speak of it in terms of the 
highest eulogy. The Hon. Edward Everett has pronounced it 
one of the finest works of art of ancient or modern times. 

It certainly does not embody a visible realization of 
the idea existing in the heart of the nation of the "great 
chief." We do not think of Washington as a half - naked 
Roman, sitting in God-like state, like Jupiter. The " Father of 
his country " seems near to his children ; one of the same 
nature as themselves, though better, to whom they owe their 
national life ; who suflered with them, and shared in the 
blessings as well as the perils of the fearful Revolutionary 
struggle. 

A foreign writer thus speaks of it : — " Nothing can 
be more human, and at the same time more God-like, than this 

* This line is thus translated : — 

"0 youth, unblest by parents' smiles, begin." 



44 THE FEDERAL CITY, 

colossal statue of Washington. It is a sort of domestic Jupi- 
ter. The sublime repose and simplicity of the whole figure, 
united as it is with exceeding energy of expression, is perfectly 
classical, without the slightest abstract imitation, so that there is 
no mistaking the pure lineage of this statue. He has addressed 
his statue of Washington to a distant posterity, and made it 
rather a poetical abstract of his whole career, than the chroni- 
cler of any one deed or any one leading feature of his life." 

The dead artist, himself, thus feelingly once wrote of his 
work. As we read his touching words they disarm criticism : 

" It is the birth of my thought. I have sacrificed to it the 
flower of my days and the freshness of my strength ; its every 
lineament has been moistened with the sweat of my toil, and 
the tears of my exile. I would not barter away its association 
with my name for the proudest fortune avarice ever dreamed 
of. In giving it up to the nation that has done me the honor 
to order it at my hands, I respectfully claim for it that protec- 
tion which it is the boast of civilization to afibrd to art, and 
which a generous enemy has more than once been seen to ex- 
tend even to the monuments of his own defeat." 

Horatio Greenough was born in Boston, Sept. 6, 1805. He 
died at Somerville, near Boston, Dec. 18, 1852, of brain fever. 
The first commission given him to execute a group of sculpt- 
ure was of " The Chanting Gherubs," for Mr. Cooper, the nov- 
elist. " This order," he said, " saved me from despair ; " and 
also, that "he (Cooper,) was a father to me in kindness." It is 
pleasant to make such record of one of America's most gifted 
writers. 

The statue of Washington was finished in 1843, and cost 
$25,000. It was executed in Italy, and brought to America in 
the national ship Ohio ; it being difficult to find a merchant 
ship able to carry it. 

In 1851, after the group of " Civilization " was finished, Mr. 
Greenough returned to this country to superintend the proper 
placing of this his last work upon its pedestal. It is said, the 
delay, anxiety, and worry, consequent upon this duty, superin- 
duced the disease which caused his death. 




STATUE OF PEACE, BY PERSICO. 




STATUE OF WAR, BY PERSICO. 




CLUCK IN OLD HALL UF ]l E Pit ES KN T A T I V E^. 
];V C. FRANZONT. 




Outline Diagram, of the Door. 



THE FEDERAL CITT„ 55 



THEJ RoaERS' BRONZE DOOR. 

Tliis magnificent Door opens out of the old Hall of the' 
House of Eepresentatives upon the corridor leading into the 
new Hall. 

It was originally designed to occupy this place, but Thomas 
TJ. Walter, Esq., "Architect of the United States' Capitol Exten- 
sion and the new Dome," who also was the architect of 
the "Girard College, at Philadelphia," very judiciously remarks 
in his Annual Report of 1862 : — 

This "is not a suitable place for it, as there is nothing in the location 
that requires such a door, nor is there any reason why an opening so 
entirely subordinate and unimportant in the design of the building should 
be embellished with so magnificent and expensive a work of art. 

"The door which closes this opening should correspond with the main 
entrance door of the present Hall of Representatives which stands opposite 
to it. Besides, it could never be seen to any advantage ; — standing in the 
common thoroughfare through the building it would never remain closed 
during the sessions of Congress ; its valves would necessarily be always 
folded back into the jambs, thus sacr.ificing the whole effect of the compo- 
sition. 

"In view of these considerations I respectfully recommend that thia 
door be placed in the Eastern Front of the centre building, and be made to 
constitute the principal entrance to the Capitol. In this situation its 
elaborate decorations would be seen to advantage, having the full benefit 
of light and shade, and there would be nothing to prevent its occasionally 
remaining closed." 

In his Annual Report for '63, since made public, Mr. Walter 
thus resumes the subject of the location of the Door: — 

" I objected to this locality in my last Annual Report, and gave several 
reasons why it would be preferable to place it at the principal entrance of 
the old Capitol. I find, however, after having seen the door, that it is not 
at all suitable for the exterior entrance of such a building ; it has too much 



56 



THE FEDERAL CITY 



fine detail for outside exposure in a climate like this, and were it placed 
in the centre of the Eastern Front, as proposed, its surroundings would not 
be in harmony with so magnificent and elaborate a work of art. 

" The Eastern Portico of the old building will certainly be taken down at 
BO very distant day, and the front be extended eastward, at least, to the 
front line of the wings, so as to complete the architectural group, and, at 
the same time, afford additional accommodations to the legislative depart- 
ment of the Government. 

" When this improvement shall have been put in progress, the vestibule 
may be made a leading feature in the building, and it may be so designed 
as to be in harmony with this door, which can then be removed and made 
to serve the purpose of an inner or vestibule door, where it will be pro- 
tected from the weather, and where the architecture in connection with it 
Will be consistent with its form and in harmony with its design." 

What effect these remarks and recommendations may have 
upon the final disposition of the Door cannot, of course, as yet 
be known. 

This, however, is certain, that the windows on each side the 
corridor scarcely afford sufficient light to read with ease the 
grand illuminated Page of History, which the Door really is. 

"^^ FASHION OF THE DOOR. 

The Door is of entire bronze, and weighs 20,000 pounds. Its 
whole height is seventeen feet and its width nine feet. It is 
believed to be the only work of the kind thus constructed in the 
world. ,. • ^, y. 

The Door is folding or double, and the view given in our 
necessarily meagre outline Diagram is of it as it appears when 
closed. 

It stands sunk back inside of a casing, also of bronze, that 
projects about a foot forward from the leaves or valves. On 
this casing each side of the Door, are four figures, at the top and 
bottom, representing Asia, Africa, Europe, and America. A 
running border, emblematic of conquest and navigation, 
occupies the space along the casing between them. 

The Door has eight Panels beside the semi-circular one at 
the top. In each one of these Panels is a separate picture. 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 57 

The back of the Door is plainly finished. Each of the Panels 
there has only a circular moulding inclosing a centre star. 

This whole work was designed by Randolph Rogers, an 
American artist, and modeled by him in Rome, in 1858, It 
was cast in bronze by F. von Miiller, at Munich, and finished 
by him, awaiting the order of Government, in 1861. 

The work is delicately minute in all its details. A single 
figure is in itself a gem of art. The grouping of the scenes is 
highly effective and each picture is as defined and expressive 
as a line engraving. The work is in alto relievo — the figures 
projecting almost entirely out fi'om the surface. 

THE STORY THE DOOR TELLS 

Is the History of Columbus and the Discovery of 

America. ^ _.__-_— -__ 

The Panel containing the earliest scene in the life of the great 
Admiral, is the lowest one on the left hand side, and in our 
Diagram it is marked 

I. 

It represents '' Columbus undergoing an Examination before the Council 
of Salamanca. ' ' He is seen here zealously unfolding his grand theory to 
a bigoted audience. 

This Council at last, after long delays, decided " the project vain and 
Impossible ; and not becoming great princes to engage in on such slender 
grounds as had been adduced." 

The Panel above it marked 

II. 

Contains *' Columbus' Departure from the Convent of La Rabida," near 
Palos. He is just setting out to visit the Spanish Court. 

It was to this Convent he had come weary, and on foot, with his littla 
son Diego, begging bread for him, his heart saddened by poverty, debt, 
and hope deferred. He was received kindly by the pious fathers and 
lived here a long time. Juan Perez, prior of the convent, a former con- 
fessor to Queen Isabella interested himself deeply in his affairs and through 
him and the Lady Beatriz de Bobadilla, a favorite attendant of Isabellj^ 
the queen was induced to send Columbus 20,000 maravedis, about seventy- 
two dollars, equivalent to two hundred and sixteen dollar* of the present 
time, to enable him to make a respectable appearance at court. It wa» 



58 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

while staying at this Convent that he also formed the acquaintance of 
Alonzo Pinzon who sailed with him in his first voyage to America. 
The Panel marked 

in. 

Is his "Audience at the Court of Ferdinand and Isabella." In this pic 
ture the queen, seated in state, leans forward and seems deeply interested 
m what Columbus is saying. The king, by her side, with chilling apathy 
evidently regards him as a visionary. 

The next Panel is the top one of this half of the door, and is marked 
by us 

IV. 

Its picture represents the " Starting of Columbus from Palos" on his 
first voyage. He is here confiding his son to the monks before he embarks. 
His ships lie waiting in the harbor. 

THE TRANSOM PANEL 

Occupies the semi -circular sweep over the whole door. The extensive 
picture here is the "First Landing of the Spaniards in state at San 
Salvador." 

The top Panel on the other leaf of the door, and marked in our Diagram 



Contains the first of the sad pictures of the Door, and represefli.8 the 
"Earliest Encounter of the Discoverers with the Natives." In it one of 
the sailors is seen bringing an Indian girl on his shoulders a prisoner. 
The transaction aroused the stem indignation of Columbus. 

The Panel next below this one, marked 

VI. 

Has in it "The Triumphal Entry of Columbus into Barcelona." It is full 
of the glory of success and waving banners ; all the halo of rose-color 
seems now to light up the future of the great Discoverer. 

But in the Panel below this is represented a very different scene. It is 
numbered 

VII. 

And is " The Admiral in Chains." 

Don Francisco de Bobadilla, sent out by the court to investigate charges 
preferred against Columbus, had him, thus disgraced, sent back to Spain. 
When on board the vessel, upon the oflicers there wishing to relieve him 
of his chains, he replied with deep feeling : — " I will wear them as a 
memento of the gratitude of princes !" 

In the next Panel. 



THE FEDERAL CITY. ^^ 

VIII. 

Is the "Death scene." Columbus lies in bed. The last rites of the 
Catholic Church have been administered ; — friends and attendants are 
around him ; — and a priest holds up a cinicifix for him to kiss, and upon 
it bids him fix his dying eyes. 

Columbus returned from his last voyage poor, sick, and disconsolate. 
True, i^revious to his starting on this voyage, the charges auainst him had 
been all cleared away, and the vain, v^eak headed Francisco de Bobadilla 
was drowned with his cre>Y on their voyage home. But, now his friend 
Queen Isabella was dead. The king looked coldly upon the man who had 
given him an empire. 

Columbus landed near San Lucar, and from thence proceeded to Seville 
where, to quote his own words, he "had no place to repair to except an 
inn, and often with nothing to pay for his sustenance." 

He sought redress at the Spanish Court by means of friends and letters, 
but failed in all. After painful delays, sometimes carried on a litter, he at 
last succeeded in reaching Segovia in Old Castile, where the Court then 
was, but all his renewed endeavors to obtain justice were futile. 

Columbus died at Valladolid, the 20th of May, 1506, aged about 70 years. 
His last words were, "J/i manus iuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum.''^ 
"Into thy hands, Lord, I commend my spirit." Those closing eyea 
doubtless opened upon a new discovery — that far brighter land than the 
Western Antilles, the gold of which is not corroded with blood, or care, 
nor ever dimmed with tears. 

[Note. — Upon the Door itself there are no marks of numbers on the 
Panels as in the Diagram — this numbering was introduced to enable our 
description of it to be more easily understood.] 

The funeral obsequies of Columbus were celebrated in 
great pomp in the parocliial churcli of Santa Maria de la An- 
tigua, in Valladolid. and his remains interred in the Convent 
of St. Francis. In 1513 they were removed to the Carthusian 
monastery of Las Cuevas, at Seville. 

In 1536 they were taken from Spain to the island of St. Do- 
mingo, where they remained over two hundred and fifty years. 
From there, again, in 1796, they were removed in great pomp 
to Havana and now rest in the Cathedral of the Capital of 
Cuba. 

THE STATUETTES. 
On the Door, on the sides and between these Panels, are six- 
teen small statues, set in niches, of eminent cotemporaries of 



60 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

Columbus. Their names are marked on the Door, as well as 
on the Diagram, where they are printed in the positions they 
occupy on the Door. 

Beginning at the bottom, on the side from which we started 
in numbering the Panels, we find the figure occupying the 
lowest niche is 

Perez. Juan Perez de Marchena was prior of the Convent of La Rabi- 
da, the early and ever firm friend of Columbus. 

The niche above this is occupied by Cortez, the conquerer of Mexico. 

Above him again stands Ojeda. Don Alonzo de Ojeda was an early 
Spanish adventurer to the New World, — of patrician birth. He possessed 
great bravery and endurance, but lacked fealty to the illustrious Admiral. 

Vesptjcci occupies the next niche on the door. It is, perhaps, not 
generally known that among the friends of Columbus whom he trusted 
during his last dark days was numbered Amerigo Vespucci. 

Then come, opposite in line across the door, standing in two niches, side 
by side, Mendoza and Alexander VI. 

Pedro Gonzales de Mendoza, Archbishop of Toledo and Grand Cardinal 
of Spain, at an early period patronized the cause of Columbus. His influ- 
ence at court was great, and he is sometimes facetiously called "the third 
king of Spain." 

Alexander VI. was a Roman Pontiff. He was a native of Valencia and 
born a subject to the crown of Aragon. He was an able and politic sover- 
eign, although represented by history as a perfidious, bad man. 

Then follow, below them, Isabella and Ferdinand, King and Queen 
of Spain. 

Beneath them stands the Lady Beatriz de Bobadilla, marchioness of 
Moya, the early friend of Columbus, and favorite of Queen Isabella. Be- 
tide her is 

Charles VIII., King of France, a prince of the house of Valois. He 
died, 1498, aged 28 years. 

The first figure of the lowest pair on the door is Henry VII., of Eng- 
land, the Richmond of Shakspeare's play of Richard III. and grandfather 
to the Queens Mary and Elizabeth. He was a patron of navigation, and 
seemed disposed to regard with favor the theory of Columbus, which was 
presented to his notice by Bartholomew the brother of the Admiral. But, 
already, the discovery had been accomplished. Beside him, stands 

John II., King of Portugal. This monarch declined accepting the pro- 
posals from Columbus made him previous to his application to Ferdinand 
and Isabella. 

Then, in the same line with them, across the Panel, is 

PiNZON. Martin Alonzo Pinzon commanded the " Pinta," one of Co- 
lumbus' little fleet of three vessels. It was he who first saw "Land," 



THE FKDERAL CITY 



61 



September 25, 1492 : eventually his friendship died out, and he proved 
treacherous to Columbus. He died a victim to grief and bitter mortifica- 
tion. 

In the niche above Pinzon stands B. Columbus, the brother of the 
Admiral, and appointed by him adelantado, or lieutenant-governor of the 
Indies. 

Then comes Vasco Nunez de Balboa, a Spanish discoverer and adven- 
turer, bom in 1475. It was he who crossed the isthmus of Darien and on 
September 29, 1510, first saw from a mountain the Pacific ocean. 

In the niche above, again at the top of the Door, stands the figure of 
Frakcisco PizAKRCthe conqueror of Peru. 

THE HEADS ON THE DOOR. 

Between tlie Panels and at top and bottom of the valves of 
the Door are ten small projecting heads. They are indicated 
on the Diagram by round outline dots. 

These heads, or rather those "between the Panels," are de- 
scribed in Mr. Walter's Report as " representing historians who 
have written on his (Columbus') voyages from his own time 
down to the present day, ending with Irving and Prescott." 

All endeavor to obtain further certain information relative to 
the heads has resulted in disappointment. Mr. Walter offered 
an examination of all his correspondence with the artist that 
might throw light upon the subject, but he himself had stated 
already, as above quoted, all that could be thus elicited. The 
two heads at the tops of the valves are evidently female heads, 
while the two next the floor possess markedly Indian charac- 
teristics. 

Above, over the transom arch, on the casing of the Door, 
looks down, over all, the serene grand head of Columbus. 

Beneath this head of Columbus, the American Eagle 
spreads out his widely extended wings. 

Besides all that there has been an attempt to describe, the rest 
of the Door is covered with emblems, banners, and heraldic 
emblazonry, relating to the times and the people that figure in 
the historic lessons, impressed upon its ponderous leaves. 

COST OF THE DOOR. 
The cost of the Door was thirty thousand dollars. 



62 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

The opinion has been very freely expressed, that the names 
of the artist and bronze-fonnder, instead of occupying the places 
they do on the Door, in the midst of the running border, and 
really disfiguring it, should have been put at the foot of the 
casing. Standing where they do, they seem very much like 
Yankee business cards. 

Mr. Ro2;ers, it is said, was unable to obtain a likeness of B. 
Columbus, the brother of the Admiral, and the face affixed to 
'-hat statuette on the Door, is his own. For the same reason he 
was eompelled to substitute some face for that of the Lady 
Beatriz de Bobadilla, and that of Mrs. Rogers, was the one he 
selected. 

It was intended, at first, to have had the illuminated Bronze 
Door, designed by Crawford, for the main entrance from the 
Portico of the Senate Extension of the Capitol, also cast by J\Ir. 
F. von Miiller, at Munich, but arrangements were afterwards 
entered into to have it cast by Mr. Ames, at his foundry at 
Chicopee, Mass. 

Mr, Clark Mills, of Bladensburg, was the founder who 
cast the Statue, designed by Crawford, that crowns the Capitol. 

The whole cost of the Statue of Freedom, previous to its 
being raised to its present position, was $23,796 82, and its 
weight, 14,985 pounds. Its height is 19 feet, 6 inches. 

It may be interesting to know, that Jefferson Davis, the rebel 
chief, then our Secretary of War, and having the Capitol in 
charge, suggested to Mr. Crawford the "Helmet Cap" of Eagle 
feathers and Eagle beak, that now ornaments it — the original 
idea of the artist being entirely different. 



The military aspect of Washington strikes the sense of the 
visitor during these war times. Cannon, fiiring at the JNavy 
Yard, Artillery Camp, and Arsenal, is heard at frequent inter- 
vals. The roll of the drum and shrill notes of the fife are con- 
stantly sounding, while regiments of soldiers, coming and going, 
parade the streets. The Railroad Depot swarms with soldiers. 

Wagons, containing forage and military stores, in long lines 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 63 

looking like moving tents, stretch square after square, along the 
principal Avenues and streets. Hospitals, like " whited sepul- 
chres," appear in all directions, and make one shiver at the idea 
of skeletons and dead men's bones. Ambulances crawl with a 
snail's pace, to and from them, freighted with quivering masses 
of suffering humanity, or with coffins wrapped in the folds of 
the " old Flag " in defence of which the dead heroes, sleeping 
inside them, died. 

You meet, also, an innumerable host, in squads, or in twos, 
or single, dressed "in blue" halt, maimed, and often blind. 
Thej are the Soldiers of the Eepublic, whose bodies have been 
the fleshy rampart opposed to treason, and to them the nation 
and the world owe a debt they can never pay. 

In October, just before General Banks was ordered south, a 
military review took place out East Capitol Street on the 
parade ground near Lincoln Hospital. The white tents of 
camps here and there, indeed lying in all directions, skirted 
the view. Many lookers-on were in carriages and on foot, and 
soldiers on horseback rode round the ground, driving back in- 
truders that trespassed within the designated bounds. 

Long before the ground was reached I heard the roll of drums. 
Gaining a slight eminence, a single glimpse was caught of a long 
line of flashing bayonets. Again, and there was another flash ; 
and, still another. These flashes continued to succeed each 
other in rapid succession. They reminded me of the Aurora 
Borealis that is seen far north. But I soon hurried on to get 
nearer. 

The soldiers and artillery defiled in front of Generals Casey 
and Banks and their staffs who were on horseback, and then 
around the Hospital, a cluster of long low buildings, that, for 
a while, hid portions of them from sight. This losing sight 
of them, temporarily, and then, their again appearing, height- 
ened the effect of the spectacle. 

Quite a number of tiny silken flags were attached to the 
bridle-gear of many of the horses of the officers-of-staflf. They 



64 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

looked very pretty, and fluttered in the wind like wings of 
brilliant butterflies. 

There was a constant galloping of officers up to where the 
two generals sat, with whom a few words were exchanged, and 
then they galloped off again, as if the Furies were chasing 
them. On several occasions the generals saw proper to change 
their position in the field. 

The soldiers marched, and countermarched. Drums beat, 
and, occasionally, bugles sounded. Batteries of artillery, with 
horses galloping and gun - carriages rattling noisily along, 
fell into line, the men shouting as they hurried on their 
way. At one time they made an immense circuit, it must have 
been of at least a mile, and, from where I stood, and as the sun 
fell on them as a certain turn was made, sunshine flashed all at 
once upon a thousand bayonets, and they glittered in it like a 
wave of diamonds. A moment passed, and then another wave 
of diamonds flashed and glittered — moving on, to be succeeded 
by another, and still another, until the thousands of soldiers 
had all passed by, and the green carpet of the earth lay motion- 
less behind them, like a calm great sea. 

Again — and this was just before they started to go into the 
city in procession — the whole of the six thousand soldiers 
in two grand divisions, stood in front of the generals, lined in 
long platoons. At the word of command they separated a 
little wider apart ; and then, all at once, there dashed in be 
tween them, with bugles sounding, a battery of artillery, 
making a fearful noise, with horses, and guns, and caissons. 
The effect was terrific. The firm earth seemed to tremble. 
I thought of Gideon and his battle-cry thousands of years 
ago. 

There was now another change of position of the generals, 
another galloping off of their captains after them, and they 
all swept from the field, the little flags on the horses fluttering 
as if they would fly away. 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 65 

I watched the procession as it followed in their wake. On, 
and on, it receded further and farther from where I stood, until 
in the distance, as the pageant neared the Capitol, the sound of 
the drum-beat rolled fainter and fainter. At last, like a long 
trailing cloud of fire-flies, seen at night time, it passed away 
down the hill, and was gone! 



66 THE FEDERAL CITY 



CHAPTER III. 

THE CAPITOL — CONGRESS — OhV HALL OF REPRESENTATIVES — FIRST HALL DE- 
STROYED BY THE DRITISII — NEW HALL OF REPRESENTATIVES — PICTURE OF 
GENERAL SCOTT — STATUE OF JEFFERSON DY POWERS — BRONZE CAST OP AN 
INDIAN CHIEF — LECTZE'S PICTURE OF "WESTERN EMIGRATION" — THE TWO 
ARTISTS FRANZONI. 

The immense size of the Capitol grows upon one. This is 
true also of the Louvre, St. Paul's, St. Peter's, and other great 
buildings of the world. The same effect is produced as we 
continue to gaze upon the grand works of Nature — the Falls 
of Niagara, the Jungfrau, and the mighty ocean. Who cannot 
recall his first sight of the sea? — its waves beating like pulses 
and breaking on the beach. But it was only after a time, its 
immensity imperceptibly stole over the soul, and thought be- 
came lost in the sense of its vastness. 

The length of the Capitol extends seven hundred and fifty- 
one feet, four inches ; the breadth, including the steps of the 
Extensions, three hundred and twenty-four feet — the whole 
covering an area of ground of more than three-and-a-half acres, 
or 153,112 square feet. 

The Dome towers in the air nearly four hundred feet to its 
top, as seen from the ground west and down the hill — a height 
over twice that of Niagara Falls. It is of cast iron, painted 
white, and resembles in general appearance and gracefulness 
the great domes of St. Peter's of Eome, St. Paul's of London, 
St. Genevieve, and of the Invalides, of Paris, and that of the 
latest of all modern works of the kind, the Eussian national 
church, the Cathedral of St Isaac's at St. Petersburg, which also 
is partly built of iron. It hangs there, up in the clouds, a real 
something of what haunted me, a dreaming schoolboy, as I 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 67 

sat gazing at the pictures of the world's cathedrals' in the 
Geography, long, long ago. 

The Dome that it superseded was low, and was built of wood, 
brick, and stone, sheathed with copper ; and had a circular wood- 
en balustrade at the top. Its height was 145 feet from the 
ground. In general outline it resembled that of the Pantheon 
at Eome, though smaller, and also St. Sophia's of Constan- 
tinople. A picture of the Capitol, as it looked before the re- 
moval of the old Dome and the addition of the Extensions, 
was printed on the notes of the Bank of the United States, 
and may readily be recalled to remembrance. This Dome was 
removed in 1856. 

The centre portion of the building — the original Capitol — 
is built of yellowish sandstone, painted white, procured from 
an island in Acquia Creek, Virginia. The island was purchas- 
ed by Government for $6,000, in 1791. The City Hall is con- 
structed partly of the same material. 

The Extensions of the Capitol are built of white marble 
slightly tinged with blue, obtained from a quarry in Lee, Mass- 
achusetts. The columns of the Extensions are of white marble, 
taken from a quarry in Maryland. 

The interior general arrangement of the Capitol is extremely 
simple : the Rotunda beneath the Dome in the centre ; the Sen- 
ate Chamber in the Extension on one side, the North ; and the 
Hall of Representatives in the other, on the South. Yet its 
several stories, many committee and departmental rooms, vesti- 
bules, long corridors, the old Hall of Representatives, and 
broad winding staircases, confuse a stranger, and I know, some 
few, temporarily, lose themselves in it. 

A few days before the Thirty-Seventh Congress adjourned, 
in passing through the portion of the Capitol that was the ves- 
tibule to the old Senate Chamber now the Supreme Court 
Room, I heard, coming up the rarely-used marble staircase, the 
heavy military tread of a single man, and, wondering who had 
stumbled this way into the building, waited until the stranger 
should make his appearance. He came, tramping on, up the 



68 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

steps, and emerged at the head of the stairs, a rugged-looking 
soldier. One hand was tied up, for he had lost a finger a short 
time before, during "Stonewall " Jackson's raid at Winchester. 
He made a quick military salute, and with an air of perplexity, 
said : 

" Would you be so kind, sir, as to tell me where I'd find 
Congress ? " 

I v/illingly offered to show him the way. 

On starting for the Hall of Kepresentatives, we almost im- 
mediately crossed into the Rotunda. He pulled off his cap, 
and held it in his hand, gazing in wonder at the pictures that 
line its walls, and at its sky- capped roof. I mentioned the 
names of the rooms and passages through which we passed, 
talking to him, as we went along, about the Jackson raid, and 
his own part in the fray. He picked up the skirt of his coat, 
and showed me where a ball passed through it " 'bout the time 
my finger was shot off." He then said : 

" I've all my life wanted to see Congress, but I never thought 
I could, though ! " and his brown face lighted with expectation. 

We climbed the darkened Western staircase — the sky-light 
of which was boarded over, for Leutze was then working at 
his great fresco — and approached the middle door of the west 
gallery. I opened it suddenly, and the whole scene beneath at 
once burst upon us. He stood for a moment silent, then said, 
in a suppressed whisper, repeating it : 

" What a splendid pictur ! " 

It was a splendid picture. 

An immense Hall lighted only from the roof. Around all its 
sides, half way up, runs a deep gallery with cushioned seats 
ranged one above the other. The light pours down through 
panes of painted glass, ranged lengthwise, side by side, in the 
middle of the ceiling, full upon the floor, leaving the galleries 
in shadow. Rows of gilded ventilators square the splendid 
sky-light. The walls are of a subdued color, paneled, and 
heavily gilt. The carpet of the Hall is green. 

Lengthwise the Hall in successive semicircles, slightly 



THE FEDERAL CITY, 69 

elevated each above the other, are seven rows of desks. They 
are of oak, as are most of the massive arm-chairs behind them. 
They face the Speaker's Chair, that is on an elevated platform, 
up flights of steps, all of white marble, making one think of a 
pure white Throne. Behind, and over it, against the wall, 
bending towards each other, hang two silken flags — the " Stars 
and Stripes." Between them, overshadowing the chair, is a 
gilded American Eagle. 

Right and left of the chair* each occupying a large panel, 
are full length portraits of Washington and Lafayette, Oppo- 
site these, and facing the chair, is a handsome clock, against 
which lean two bronze figures, one on each side, an Indian and 
a hunter. 

Sofas and lounges of all conceivable grades of luxury stand 
around the sides of the room, beyond the desks of the 
Congressmen. 

The House was in session, A sound of many voices reached 
us where we stood up near the ceiling, and the tableaux vivant 
were curiously interesting : — 

Some military officer of high grade, in uniform — his thin, 
white hair exposing a noble forehead — stood near one of the 
doors shaking hands with members, ambitious of the honor, 
crowding around him. 

A clerk stood at his desk, reading in a stentorian voice, that 
sounded like muttering thunder, what I suppose were items of 
bills. My hearing is good, but his words were unintelligible. 

Congressmen were looking over newspapers, some with their 
feet on desks, their heads overtopped and almost hid by a forest 
of legs. Others were writing, while groups, here and there, 
engaged in conversation. There was general hubbub. 

Two of the boy-pages, unconcerned in what was going on, 
were deep in a game of fisticuflfs at one end of the room — the 
larger had the other, a little fellow, in an easy (?) chair, and 
was vigorously pummelling him. 

The muttering thunder at length ceased — and the Speaker 
rapped sharply on his desk, calling gentlemen to order. Con 



70 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

gress waked up. " Mr. Speaker ! " " Mr. Speaker ! ! " " Mr. 
Speaker ! ! ! " was shouted by voices, in as many different keys, 
from various parts of the Hall. How in the world the presid- 
ing officer could tell who spoke first I cannot imagine. Several 
of the more alert, however, in turn, succeeded in obtaining the 
floor, and said their say — though I think nineteen Congress- 
men out of twenty did n't hear what it was. 

Meantime the smaller boy-page made a successful wriggle 
out of the cushioned chair, and decamped through a door into 
one of the ante-rooms. A moment after he thrust his saucy 
face in again, with his thumb placed at the end of his nose — 
using it as a pivot, he made a significant gesture with the other 
fingers at his big opponent before he finally retired. I hope the 
little rascal intended it wholly for him, and not for the august 
assembly whose presence he was leaving. 

My soldier-companion attentively gazed on what was going 
on below us. After a while, button-holing me, he said in a tone 
80 loud that I feared that the important functionary, the door- 
keeper, would unpleasantly with a touch of his baton remind us, 
"Conversation is not allowed in the galleries, gentlemen : " — 

" Why, mister, they do n't seem to listen to what one another 
says ! " I whispered back, " No, they did n't, but as it was all 
printed in the newspapers, they could read it afterwards if 
they wanted," This seemed hardly to satisfy him. 

Half an hour passed away. He then asked me to show him 
the Senate Chamber, and we left the gallery. 

There are no old associations of historic interest about the 
present halls of Congress. Events transpired there time has 
not yet mellowed. All is fresli and green as the carpets. But 
History is writing, each day a record there, that will interest 
the world and all time — the grand Story of the Culmination 
and Putting Down of the Rebellion — that fearfullest of all 
attempts ever made to drive Liberty from the homes of men. 



As I came again into the Old Hall of Representatives afler 
having left the soldier in the gallery of the Senate, I was struck. 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 71 

as I often had been before, with the air of majesty pervading 
the grand deserted room, stripped as it was of many old State 
trappings. It is of semi-circular shape, and surrounded by 
twenty - six columns of variegated Potomac marble. The 
figure of "Liberty," beneath which is an "Eagle on the wing," 
still occupies, its position high up in the Hall above wdiere was 
once the Speaker's, chair ; as does also, opposite it, the marble 
statue representing "History recording the events of the 
nation." She is placed on a winged car, rolling round a globe 
on which are delineated the signs of the Zodiac, and the wheel 
of the car is the face of the clock. 

Two cake-women, with tables, were now the occupants of 
the floor of this magnificent chamber. The room was without 
a carpet ; the windows were bare of drapery ; and the walls 
discolored. Cobwebs waved backwards and forwards up near 
the ceiling. The chandelier, once regarded as a triumph of 
artistic elegance, was covered with dust, and the sky-light was 
so obscured with smoke and accumulated dirt that it admitted 
little light. Foot-falls, of passers in and out of the room, and 
along the coridors that lead to it, fell faintly, and monotonous- 
ly, on the hearing, and, gradually, I became lost in reverie. 

It was here the great departed used to congregate. The 
echoes of their footsteps, to my awakened imagination, now 
seemed to linger around ; their voices to whisper through the 
empty space. The room gradually appeared again re-peopled. 
I saw in fancy, what my eyes once saw^, many years ago, as I 
stood early one morning, before Congress had assembled, in that 
now deserted gallery, the venerable John Quincy Adams at his 
desk working, and on his shining bald head rays of sunlight 
fell that lit it up until a star seemed shining there. 

The stately forms of Clay, of Webster, and of other departed 
patriot men, now, appeared, again, to walk through the room. 
Their faces were sad, yet resolute. They grouped them- 
selves around the two Declarations of Independence, that hung 
in their old frames on the otherwise dismantled walls, above the 



72 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

long unused fire-places, and stretched out their arms and 
pointed expressively towards them. The room seemed solemn 
as a sepulchre. At last, to my great relief, there burst a glad 
strain of music through an open window, and they all vanished 
into thin air. It was Wednesday, tovvards evening, and the 
concert in the grounds had commenced. 

I hastily left the apartment, glad to get into the open air and 
in the sunshine amono- the trees and flowers. 



OLD HALL OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

This Old Hall was the main feature in the south side of the 
original Capitol. 

I copy an admirable description of it, as it was, written by 
Mr. George Watterston, who, for many years was Librarian 
of .the Congressional Library, being appointed to that office by 
President Madison. A book written by him Describing "Wash- 
ington, and published in 1842, now out of print, was, I think, 
one of the very best of Guide Books ever published of the 
Federal City^ and it is the mine out of which much of the ma- 
terial contained in its successors has been taken. I have added 
but a few explanatory clauses and sentences, and they are con- 
tained within brackets. 

Mr. Watterston writes : 

" This magnificent apartment is in the form, of an ancient 
Greek theatre, ninety-five feet in length, and sixty feet in height 
to the most elevated point of the ceiling, and occupies nearly 
the whole area of the wing, from the second story upwards. 
Twenty-six massive columns and pilasters of Potomac marble, 
or breccia, standing on a base of sandstone, the capitals of 
which are of Italian marble, executed in Italy, support a mag- 
nificent dome with painted caissons, to represent that of the 
Pantheon at Home. From the centre of this dome is erected,, 
to admit the light from above, a handsome cupola, richly 
painted and ornamented by a young Italian artist named 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 73 

BoNANi, wlio also painted the ceiling, and who died in this 
city soon after it was completed. 

[ " Breccia " are small mineral fragments joined together. 
Any one who has seen Potomac marble in its rongh state, would 
at once see how correct the application of this term is to it. 
" Caissons " are sunken panels.] 

" The Speaker's chair is elevated on a platform richly draped, 
and stands immediately in front of the north entrance.* * * 
Above it, and under a sweeping arch near the dome, extending 
from east to west, is placed the model of a colossal figure of 
Liberty, (in plaster,) by Causici [a pupil of Canova]. On the 
entablature beneath the figure is sculptured in stone the Amer- 
ican Eagle, in the act of taking wing, executed by another Ital- 
ian artist (Valaperti) of high reputation, who has left but this 
single specimen of his talents in this country, and who disap- 
peared suddenly and mysteriously soon after it was executed. 

"Above the main entrance into the Hall stands a beautiful 
statue in marble, representing History recording the events of 
the nation. She stands in the attitude of listening, with her 
head turned on one side, a pen in one hand and an open book 
in the other, ready to v/rite down the passing events. Her atti- 
tiude is graceful and beautiful ; her light drapery floats around 
her, and the winged car in which she stands seems to be in 
motion over the globe, on which is figured in hasso relievo the 
signs of the zodiac. The wheel of the car serves as the face of 
the clock of the Hall, all beautifully designed and executed. 
The artist was Signor Carlo Franzoni* * * 

"Between the massive marble columns of this apartment is 
suspended, in festoons, fringed drapery of crimson merino from 
rods variously decorated.^ * *The portrait of Lafayette at full 
length, painted by a French artist, and presented to Congress 
during the last visit of that patriot to this country, (and a most 
admirable likeness of him,) decorates the panel on the west side, 
while a full length portrait of the more illustrious Washington, 
and of the same dimensions, painted by Mr. Vanderlyn, occu- 
pies the panel on the opposite side. [These two pictures now 



74 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

Lang in the New Hall of Kepresentatives. Vanderlyn received 
for his picture, by order of Congress, $2,500.] Between the 
columns, at their base, are placed sofas for the accommodation 
of the members, and those who are privileged to enter the Hall ; 
and within the bar, in a semicircle fronting the Speaker's chair, 
are seated the members of the House, each one of whom is 
furnished with a mahogany desk, an armed chair, and writing 
materials,*** 

" Between the Rotunda and the Hall of Representatives is a 
small circular vestibule. It resembles a Grecian temple, and is 
surmounted by a Dome and Cupola. The caps of the columns 
are ornamented with the cotton plant, instead of the acanthus 
leaf of the Greeks. It was the design of Mr. Latrobe, an artist 
of genius and taste, who once had charge of this building, to 
make it national as far as was possible, by the introduction of 
architectural ornaments copied from the native productions of 
this country." 

This description of Mr. Watterston has reference to the Hall 
as it was restored, after the burning of the Capitol, in 1814:, b}/ 
the British. 



The North or Senate side of the original Capitol was tlie por- 
tion of the building first made ready for Congress. The House 
of Representatives met in it, as also the Senate. 

On the 3d Monday of November, the 17th, 1800, Congress 
first assembled in the City of Washington ; but, in consequence 
of not having a quorum of both houses, and other delays, it 
was not until the next Saturday, the 22nd, that President John 
Adams, as was then the custom, delivered his message in person 
to the two Houses ; the House of Representatives liaving- re- 
paired to the Senate chamber to hear it, after the manner of 
the opening of the British Parliament. 

The building of the South wing of the Capitol pro- 
gressed slowly. A temporary structure was erected for the use 
of the House of Representatives occupying about the site of the 
present South Extension of the Capitol, and into it that body 



K 




THE FEDERAL CITY. 77 

removed. It sat there during tlie Congress that first assembled 
after the commencement of Mr. Jefferson's adnjinistration. The 
room it had occupied in the Capitol was immediately afterward 
appropriated to the Library of Congress, from which it was in 
turn displaced by the return of the House in 1805. 

Mr. Robert Mills (an Architect and Engineer,) thus speaks 
of this structure in his "Guide to Washington." [1854-]. 

" The House sat in a temporary brick building erected 
for its accommodation which was of an elliptical form 
and found to be a good speaking room ; hence when the 
permanent Plall was erected, this general form v/as adopted 
by Mr. Jefferson for it." 

It was probably this structure that was so often facetiously 
called "the oven." 

The Hall of the House was made ready for use in 1807. 

The South side of the Capitol was finished in 1811. Its in- 
terior was more substantial and beautiful in finish than that of 
the North or Senate side which had been first and more hurri- 
edly gotten ready for the occupation of Congress. 

The Hall of Representives was semi-circular, with a vaulted 
ceiling. Twenty. fluted Corinthian pillars of sandstone support- 
ed the entablature, The American Eagle, carved in sandstone 
by Signor Giuseppe Fraxzoni ornamented the frieze over the 
Speaker's chair. On the opposite frieze was a grouj) by the 
same artist, representing Agriculture, Commerce, Art, and 
Science. 

Behind the Speaker's chair sat the figure of Liberty, with an 
Eagle by her side ; her right hand presenting the Constitution, 
and in the left a Liberty Cap. Her feet rested on a reversed 
crown and symbols of monarchy and oppression. 

Mr. Mills thus describes the Hall : 

" The plan of the first House of Representatives was of an 
elliptical form, or rather a square bounded by two semicircles, 
and surmounted by a dome ; corresponding with the idea of 
Mr. Jefferson. This dome had numerous panel lights, and was 



78 THE FEDERAL CITY 

supported by a freestone colonnade. It was a very handsome 
as well as a good speaking room." 

This was the Hall that the incendiary torch of British van- 
dalism destroyed, August 24, 1814. 



The Hall that succeeded — now known by the name of the 
" Old Hall," and a description of which has already been given 
— was used by the Eepresentatives of Congress thirty-two 
years. 

After the Extensions of the Capitol were made ready for the 
occupation of Congress in 1857-'o8, the desks, and carpets, and 
pictures, taken away, the deserted Old Hall had a forlorn and 
neglected look. During this time it lay for the most part idle, 
and became a painful eyesore to visitors. 

But there were grand uses too made of the old room in the 
interval. At one time, during the early period of the Eebellion, 
soldiers that rushed to the defence of the Seat of Government, 
were quartered in it, as indeed they were, throughout the Capi- 
tol. Again, in 1862, before sufficient hospital accommodations 
were completed in Washington, sick and wounded soldiers 
lying in beds, sufi'ering and dying, were placed here, and this 
room, with others, became a Hospital. 

Congress, in 1861, made an appropriation for converting the 
Old Hall into a room for statuary ; and a beautiful white and 
black marble mosaic pavement has taken the place of the old 
wooden floor. The room has loomed out, again, grandly ; and 
will doubtless become one of the most interesting places in the 
Capitol. Each of the States is to have the privilege of send- 
ing two statues of her chosen sons to represent her in this 
silent assembly gathered in the hallowed Old Hall of Rep- 
resentatives. 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 

THE NEW HALL OF THE HOUSE OF 

REPRESENTATIVES 

ts situated in the centre of the South extension of the Capitol. 

A corridor leads to it from the old Hall of the House, the 
entrance into which is through the pictured Bronze Door de- j 
signed by Eogers. 

In general appearance it resembles the Senate chamber, but 
is larger, and somewhat more garish in its ornamentation. It 
has a gallery on its four sides capable of having crowded into 
it 1,500 persons. Sections of it are appropriated to the diplo- 
matic corps, and to the reporters of the press. The Hall has 
corridors running round it, outside of which are committee 
rooms and offices. The main entrance from the outside is 
through the vestibule of the grand South Eastern Portico. 

The Hall is 139 feet long, 93 feet wide, and 36 feet high. 
The ceiling is of iron, gilded and bronzed, and is supported by 
trusses from the roof Its centre is panelled with glass — in 
each panel is magnificently painted the arms of a State or Ter- 
ritory ; affording a sky-light calculated to make one's heart 
throb. The castings for the ceilings of both Houses of Con- 
gress was the work of Janes, Beebe & Co. 

"An arrangement of moveable metallic plates, on the princi- 
ple of Venitian blinds, is placed under the sunny sides of the 
respective roofs of the Senate and House, so that the same 
amount of light may be admitted all the time." At night both 
chambers are lighted by hundreds of jets of gas fixed above 
their sky-lights ; the effect of this way of lighting is peculiarly 
soft and beautiful. 

Seats for the members, with desks in front of them, are ranged 
in successive semicircles facing the Speaker's desk. In front of 
the Speaker's desk sit the clerks of the House, and in front of 
them is the desk for the reporters of the government. Every 
word that is uttered both in the Senate and the House is taken 
down in short hand and printed in the "Congressional Globe." 

As in the Senate, the space under the galleries is partitioned 
off, making the area of the floor 113 feet long and 67 feet wide. 



80 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

Besides the pictures of Washington and Lafayette, there is a 
fresco on one of the panels on the south side of the. Ilall. by 
Signor C. Brumidi, " citizen of the U. S." It represents an in- 
terview between General Washington and a British officer, who, 
with the bearer of a flag of truce, has presented himself to the 
American commander. The scene is historic, and occurred 
before Yorktown, and immediately preceded the final surrender 
of Lord Cornwallis. The following extract from Irving's Life 
of Washington will explain the picture, and narrates the great 
subsequent event. 

"The hopes of Lord Cornwallis were now at an end. His 
works were tumbling in ruins about him, under an incessant 
cannonade; his garrison was reduced in number by sickness 
and death, and exhausted by constant watching and severe duty. 
Unwilling to expose the residue of the brave troops which had 
stood by him so faithfully, to the dangers and horrors of an 
assault, which could not fail to be successful, he ordered a par- 
ley to be beaten about ten o'clock on the morning of the 17th, 
[October, 1781], and despatched a flag wih a letter to Wash- 
ington proposing a cessation of hostilities for twenty-four hours, 
and that two officers might be appointed by each side to nieet 
and settle terms for the surrender of the posts of York and 
Gloucester. 

" Washington felt unwilling to grant such delay, when rein- 
forcements might be on the way for Cornwallis from New York. 
In reply, therefore, he requested that, previous to the meeting 
of commissioners, his lordship's proposals might be sent in 
writing to the American lines, for which purpose a suspension 
of hostilities during two hours from the delivery of the letter, 
would be granted." 

The historian continues : 

" This was complied with ; but as the proposals ofltered by 
Cornwallis were not all admissible, Washington drew up a 
schedule of such terms as he would grant, and transmitted it to 
his lordship. * * Commissioners met. * * After much discussion, 
a rough draft was made of the the terms of the capitulation to 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 81 

be submitted to the British general. These Washington caused 
to be promptly transcribed, and sent to lord Cornwallis early 
on the 19th, with a note expressing his expectation that they 
would be signed by eleven o'clock, and that the garrison would 
be ready to march out by two o'clock in the afternoon. Lord 
Cornwallis was fain to comply, and, accordingly, on the same 
day, the posts of Yorktown and Gloucester were surrendered." 



The pedestal of verd antique marble, in which the Speaker's 
mace is inserted when the House is in session, stands on the east 
side of the chair. 

The mace is at other times kept in the room of the Sergeant- 
at- Arms. It consists of black lictor's rods bound together with 
a silver ligature, surmounted with a globe, over which stretches 
with extended wings the American Eagle. 

EASTERN STAIRCASE. 

A magnificent staircase of Tennessee and white marble leads 
from the east corridor to the ladies' gallery of the House. It is 
ornamented with highly polished Tennessee marble columns. 

A large picture of General Scott on horseback, now hangs on 
the wall that faces the ascent of the stairs. It does not 
belong to Government, but was placed in the Capitol by the 
artist with the hope it would be purchased by the country. 
It was painted by Mr. Edward Troye, and ordered of him by 
the Virginia Legislature ; but, the Rebellion breaking out, the 
picture was thrown on his hands. The price that was to 
have been paid for it was §6,000. 

In a niche of the corridor, at the foot of the stairs, stands a 
statue of Thomas Jefferson by Powers. It is, as all his 
work is, beautifully finished ; the very texture of the cloth 
of his garments seems impressed on the delicate marble, and 
the separate stitches of the worked button-holes of his coat may 
easily be discerned by the curious eye — the hands, too, are 
marvels of artistic beauty ; yet, to my fancy, it is all toned 



82 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

clown to such a degree that the creation lacks power. There 
is notldng there of the strong rugged man Jefferson really was. 
The impression is very different from that his portrait makes in 
Trumbull's picture of the Declaration of Independence in the 
Rotunda.. 

The bronze statue also of the democratic Prince, cast years 
ago in Paris, and that now stands in front of the White House, 
must certainly look more like what the man Vv'as whose diamond 
pen wrote the Declaration of Human Rights, than it is possible 
this block of Carrara marble can — exquisitely cut and finished 
though it is. 

Mr. Hiram Powers received $10,000 for this statue deliv- 
ered in New York. It was executed in Italy, and arrived in 
this country in 1863. 

WESTERN STAIRCASE. 

Another magnificent staircase ascends from the "Western 
corridor of the House, leading into the gentlemen's gallery. 

In the niche, at the foot of the stairs, the bronze bust of an 
Indian chief, is placed a- top of successive blocks of white mar- 
ble piled one above the other. 

It is the likeness of a brave who died a short time after his 
return home from a visit to Washington. The five feathers 
on the top of his head are significant of his valor in battle. 
His superstitious red brethren believe that his death was a pun- 
ishment for permitting his likeness to be taken to stay among 
the pale faces. On the neck of the bust is a medal with an in- 
scription that tells . something about him, and the artists who 
perpetuated his likeness. It reads : 

" Bee-she-kee, The Buffalo, a Chippewa warrior from the 
sources of the Mississippi. After nature by F. Vincenti, A. D. 
1854, Copied in bronze by Jos. Lassalle, A. D. 1858." 

This bronze looks like an antique, and is of an uniform rich 
color. This appearance was imparted to it by some process that 
is a secret. It is to be regretted the Rogers' Bronze Door has not 
also been submitted to it, as discolorations are appearing on it. 



the federal city. 

leutze's picture of "western 
emigration'' 

Covers the whole extent of the wall above the first landing on 
the grand Western staircase that leads to the gallery of the 
House. The light falls on it from a sky-light in the roof. 

This picture arrests the attention of every visitor to the Cap- 
itol, and a mere description of it necessarily can convey but a 
feeble idea of its beauties to those who have not enjoyed 
the pleasure of seeing it. 

I will, however, try to describe the picture. 

A party of emigrants coming down the mountains are ap- 
proaching a gorge through which a view is seen — extending as 
an illimitable sea — of the desired land beyond. Smoke, as if 
from camp fires, or warm springs, is ascending, and birds wheel 
aloft in the air ; they are Eagles hovering over the unbroken 
expanse of virgin soil. The mountain tops are bathed in 
purple light. 

Away, far up, where rocks are piled upon rocks, as 'twere 
that veritable work of giants who made the futile attempt to 
scale the walls of Heaven, two men have climbed, and carry 
with them the glorious old Flag. They look tiny in the far-up 
distance, but you can see there, gleaming, over all, the " Stars 
and Stripes." 

Just in front of the open gorge a- fallen tree impedes the 
further advance of the party. This, under the direction of the 
leader, who is on horseback, other men are engaged in removing. 

A family has climbed a pile of rocks, and are looking out 
eagerly to see the new home-land. A boy, a type of Young 
America, with his father's long rifle in his hand, standing erect, 
looking as indomitable as boy could look, cut out clear and 
distinct in the picture, is the foremost figure of the group. His 
sister and mother, sit on rocks or ground behind him, over 
which a buffalo robe has been spread. The girl's face is full 
of hope, and smiles play on her face and sparkle in her eyes. 
The mother looks pale, and patient, and as if she tried to feel 
hopeful. Her hands are clasped, and a little baby is suckling 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 

at her breast. That mother's face, is, to me, one of the most 
beautiful faces I have ever seen in a picture. The father, a 
strong, stout man, endeavors to cheer her ; he is still behind, 
and points out with face of glowing hope the land where his 
own good arm shall win for them another home. 

A procession of men, and women, and children, representing 
all types of western emigrants, in various conditions of sick- 
ness and health, and of hope and despondency, seem to be 
moving, so life-like are they painted, before the eyes of the 
looker on. 

Wagons, and oxen, and cows, and* horses, with all accompa- 
niments of western emigration, are there, to the very life. 

One man has a fiddle, babies are in abundance, as well as 
frolicksome children of various ages ; a round, sleek negro face 
looks at you. out of the picture, showing white teeth ; — while, 
as glimpses of the opening view fall upon the faces of the 
pioneer men and women, they light, and glow, and seem almost 
to startle into life. 

Above the picture, in golden letters, is inscribed the words : 

"WESTWARD THE COURSE OF EMPIRE TAKES ITS WAY," 

Beneath, and detached from the main picture, yet, as it were 
hanging on to it, is a view of the "Golden Gate," at the 
entrance of the harbor of San Francisco Bay. 

An elaborate pictorial border surrounds the picture, illustra- 
ting the advance of pioneer and civilized, over savage, life. It, 
of itself, would form a study, to take in all its teachings. 

On one side of this border, and contained in it, is a fine 
portrait of Daniel Boone, and some distance below it are the 
lines : 

"The Spirit grows with its allotted Spaces :—^ 
The Miud is narrowed in a narrow Sphere." 

On the opposite side is a portrait of Captain William 
Clarke, and the lines : 

"No pent up Utica contracts our powers ; 
But the whole boundless Continent is ours." 



THE FEDERAL CITY 85 

The general effect of this wall picture is different from that 
of usual frescoes. There is an absence of the fresh, garish 
look common to them, and from which they deriye their name, 
and also a softer, richer, blending together of colors. The sur- 
face of the wall is rough, and intelligent travellers have told me 
that it made them think of the magnificent tapestries of 
Hampton Court Palace,, once the property of Cardinal Wolsey, 
and which, with all its treasures of art, he made a present to 
his sovereign Henry VIII. 

The process of afi&xing it to the wall is termed Stereochrome, 
and is sometimes called " water-glass painting." " The wall is 
coated with a preparation of clean quartz sand mixed with the 
least possible quantity of lime ; and after the application of this 
the surface is scraped to remove the outer coating in contact 
with the atmosphere. It is then washed with a solution of 
silesia, soda, potash, and water. As the painter applies his col- 
ors, he moistens his work by squirting distilled water upon it. 
When finished it is washed over with the silesia solution. The 
picture also in its progress is washed with the same solution 
and the colors thus becoming incorporated in the flinty coating, 
the picture is rendered hard and durable as stone itself" 

Emanuel Leutze, the artist to whom we are indebted for this 
picture, was born in Giimd, Wurtemberg, May 24, 1816. His 
parents emigrated during his infancy to America and settled in 
Philadelphia. When a little boy, and attending at the sick bed 
of his father, his talents for drawing were first displayed. He 
struggled manfully with adverse circumstances, and at last was 
enabled to return to Europe and there prosecute his artist 
labors. He now resides in the United States.* He received 
from government for this painting twenty thousand dollars. 

Mr. Leutze's first great picture, was that of "An Indian 
gazing at the setting sun." Many of his pictures are illus- 
trative of American history ; among them are " Washington 
crossing the Delaware," " Washington at Princeton," " News 
from Lexington," " Washington at the Battle of Monongahela," 
" Landing of the Norsemen in America," etc., etc. 

*Mr. Leutze died suddenly in Washington, D. C, July 18, 18G8. 



86 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

The floors of all the corridors of both Extensions are paved 
with tiles, laid in mosaic, after the choicest patterns of modern 
and antique designs. These halls are also lighted with nu- 
merous chandeliers of magnificent and varied patterns. 

THE BROTHERS FRANZONI. 

These two sculptor brother- artists, to whose genius the Capi- 
tol was greatly indebted for its early adornment, were the sons 
v-)f the President of the Academy of Fine Arts at Carrara, Grand 
Duchy of Tuscany, and nephews of Cardinal Franzoni. 

The elder, Giuseppe, (Joseph), came to this country about 
1809, and was kept constantly in the employ of the government. 
Most of his work, however, was destroyed when the Capitol 
was burned. The only specimen of it now in existence, in 
Washington, is the Eagle over the entrance to the Navy Yard. 
He died about 1816. 

The younger, Carlo, (Charles), came to the United States in 
1816, then in his twenty-sixth year, at the invitation of gov- 
ernment. It has already been stated, that the beautiful Clock 
in the Old Hall was his work. He also executed the allegori- 
cal group that adorns the wall of the present Law Library — 
formerly the United States' Supreme Court Room, on the 
ground floor of the Capitol. The vestibule through which is 
the main entrance to that room, is ornamented with columns in 
imitation of clusters of corn-stalks, and the capitals are groups 
of ears of corn peeping out from their husks. This is another 
sample of his genius and work. Both Mr. Latrobe and Mr. 
Bulfinch held his ability in high estimation, as did also his per- 
sonal friend, John Qaincy Adams. He died May 12, 1819. A 
number of models designed by him, in plaster, were stored 
away in the cellar of the Capitol at the time of his death, and 
have since probably been destroyed. 

The Clock of the Old Hall has been frequently ignorantly 
attributed, by writers about Washington, to lardella, another 
Italian, a cousin of Franzoni, but who had nothing to do 
viih either its design or execution. 



DIAGRAM OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

COAT ROOM 




WESTERN DOOR 



¥«;^Mti^mit!^^^- 



GOAT ROOM 






ING FiOOM 



DIAGRAM OF SENATE CHAMBER. 



n n, RECE"?il%00M P © © ^'^S^E'^N LOBBY 

( \ J V? 1 1 p- ^ _ ^ , ' — ^ r-^-T- [-■■'--» ^ ^^ p— r- 




© y WESTERN LOBBY 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 91 



CHAPTER IV. 

CROWNING OP THE DOME — • THE EXTENSIONS — FIRST AND SECOND feEWATE 
CHAMBERS OF THE ORIGINAL CAPITOL — SUPREME COURT ROOM — DIAGRAM 

OF THE MAIN FLOOR OF THE CAPITOL POWEKS' STATUE OF FRANKLIN — 

PEALE'S PICTURE OF WASHINGTON ON HORSEBACK BEFORE YORKTOWN — STONE'S 
STATUE OF HANCOCK — 'WALKER'S PICTURE OP THE STORMING OP CHAPULTEPEC 
THE NEW SENATE CHAMBER, ETC. 

The work on the Capitol progressed unceasingly through all 
the long weary months and years of the war of the Eebellion. 
The new Dome rose high and higher, until, completed, poised 
in mid-air, it seemed a white flecked cloud which for beauty 
angels might have fashioned to canopy our Temple of Liberty. 

At 12 o'clock M., Dec. 2, 1863, the top section of the Statue 
of Freedom, forming the head and shoulders of the figure which 
crowns the Dome, was raised to its place. The fact was heralded 
by a flag displayed from the Statue, when a national salute of 
35 guns was fired from a field-battery on Capitol Hill. This 
was followed by answering salutes from all the forts defending 
Washington. 

Provision had been made by an Act of Congress of Sept. 30, 
1850, for the much needed Extension of the Capitol "according 
to such plan as might be approved by the President." The plan 
of Thomas U. Walter, architect, was accepted by President Fill- 
more, June 10, 1851, and Mr. Walter was appointed to carry it 
out. In doing this, however, it was subjected to considerable 
modification in details decided upon in the course of erection. 

The corner-stone of the Extension was laid by Mr. Fillmore, 
July 4, 1851 . Daniel Webster was the chosen orator of the day. 

The Extension consists of two buildings north and south of 
the original Capitol, connected with it by corridors 44 feet in 
length. Each Extension is 142 feet, 8 inches front on the east, 
by 238 feet, 10 inches in depth exclusive of Porticoes and steps. 

The cost of Capitol Extension to April 1866, was $7,058,621. 

An account of changes made at various times in the interior 
arrangement of the original Capitol will probably be interesting. 



92 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

The first arrangement of the interior of the North wing 
of the Capitol differed materially from that which was adopted 
when . the building was restored after its conflagration by the 
British. 

In it the Senate Chamber was on the west side of the 
building. It was but of temporary construction ; the col- 
umns and entablature were of wood stuccoed, and the capitals 
were only plaster. This was the room in which the Senate 
met, over whose deliberations Aaron Burr, as Vice President, 
presided. 

A now venerable officer of the United States' Senate, who 
has been in its service over forty years, told me, that, when a 
boy, he recollects being in this Senate Chamber. "It was," he 
said, "a very rich-looking and imposing room. Each Senator's 
large easy chair was lined with red morocco." 



When the building was re-constructed, the Senate chamber 
was located on the east side of the North wing. It was also a 
very elegant apartment. The drapery was rich and of red, 
and hung profusely about the room. This same chamber, re- 
taining many of its old features, is now occupied by the 
Supreme Court of the United States. 

Previous to its occupancy of this room the Supreme Court 
sat in the chamber immediately underneath it. That room is 
now the Law Library — a division of the Library of Congress. 

THE SUPREME COURT ROOM. 

This room was first used by the Supreme Court in 1860. 

It is semicircular in form ; and is 75 feet long and 45 feet 
high. Its greatest width, which is in the centre, is 45 feet. 
A range of Ionic columns of Potomac marble ^orms a colon- 
nade on the eastern side of the room, while pilasters of the 
same marble are placed in the circular wall that sweeps around 
opposite them. What was once thought "a magnificent chan- 
delier," still hangs suspended from one of the sky-lights. 



THE FEDERAL CITY. SS 

The beautifal dome-ceiling is enriched with square caissons 
of stucco, and terminates in a number of sky-lights. The same 
gilded Eagle that used to look down from over the Vice Presi- 
dent's chair, when this room was the Senate Chamber, now 
spreads his wings above the seat of the Chief Justice of the 
Court, 

Opposite, over the door of entrance, is a handsome white 
marble clock. The floor is covered with a soft rich carpet, of 
brown, whose velvet surface deadens the footfalls of passers in 
and out. Eed velvet cushioned benches back the semi-circular 
wall, and hangings of that color surround the separating bar 
of the court. 

The justices, dressed in black gowns, occupy seats on a raised 
platform, ranged in front of the colonnade that faces the main 
entrance door. The old eastern gallery of the Senate, still 
traverses the space above their seats. 

Attached to the semi-circular wall, opposite, are brackets 
that support the busts of four former chief justices, John Jay, 
John Rutledge, Oliver Ellsworth, and John Marshall. That of 
Chief Justice Taney, will, -without doubt, be placed by the side 
•of these. A bust of him for some time before his death stood in 
one of the Senate corridors. Along the wall where these busts 
are ranged a semi-circular gallery supported by bronzed iron 
columns, used to project, which was the " circular gallery of the 
Senate." 

It was the intention of Mr. Latrobe, (the architect), to have 
had one of the galleries of this room when it was the Senate 
Chamber, says Mr. Watterston, "supported by emblematic 
figures of the old thirteen States, decorated with their peculiar 
insignia, and the models were actually prepared by one of the 
Italian artists whom he had engaged to come to this country ; 
but a neglect or refusal on the part of Congress to make the 
necessary appropriations defeated his designs, and the plaster 
models were afterwards thrown aside and destroyed." These 
models, very probably, were those made by Signor Carlo 
Franzoni. 



94 THEFEDERALCITT, 

The corridor of the Capitol running north that passes the 
main entrance of the Court Eoom, widens into a handsome 
vestibule in front of the door. This vestibule is adorned with 
columns of Potomac marble, and is lighted from the sky by a 
small cupola, from the centre of which hangs a chandelier. 

Before this vestibule is reached, starting from the Rotunda, 
you pass a small circular apartment lighted also with a cupola, 
and surrounded by pillars, all in imitation of a Grecian temple. 
Into the caps of the pillars, however, instead of the usual Cor- 
inthian ornament, have been worked the stock, leaf, and flower 
of the tobacco plant. 



The ceremony observed, each morning, at the opening of the 
Supreme Court is interesting, and, to some, seems highly 
imposing ; to others, who look on things from an irreverent 
point of view, the effect is different. 

It is something like this : 

At 11 o'clock A.M., the small door north of the columned 
passage behind the judges' seats opens, and the Marshal enters, 
(generally, however, he is only his deputy) and travels, mostly 
backwards, nearly the length of the room, with his eyes fixed 
on the door. He then says, in a tremulous voice, as if he feared 
to see a procession of grandmother ghosts : 

" The Honorable, the Judges of the Supreme Court of the 
United States." 

The waiting people in the Court Room all rise, even the 
lawyers, and if any have their hats on off they instantly come. 
All eyes turn to the door. Then the old men, the Justices, come 
in, one after another, in their loose flowing black silk gowns 
and range themselves before their appointed chairs ready to 
sink into them. There is a moment's hush until all the venera- 
bles get fixed. 

Meanwhile, a sort of rapid eye- telegraphing takes place be- 
tween the Honorable Chief Justice and an official who stands 
before a desk at the further end of the room, that means, " it is 
time for him to go on." [This functionary should be the " crier.* 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 95 

but the duty is usually performed by a " bailiflf."] The officer 
then breaks out in a feeble, auctioneer-sort of voice, which, be- 
fore he finishes, becomes perfectly unintelligible : 

" yea ! O yea ! O yea ! All persons having business before 
the Honorable, the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United 
States, are admonished to draw near and give their attendance, 
for the Court is now in session. God save the United States, 
and this Honorable Court." 

All the Judges look relieved, and take their seats. The man 
who sang out tha|itO yea ! " seems heartily glad his part of the 
programme is gWf] and — the Court is opened. 



The Supreme Court consists [1865] of a Chief Justice, and 
nine Associate Justices. They are nominated by the President of 
the United States, and " by and with the advice and consent of 
the Senate," are appointed by him. Their tenure of office is, 
" good behaviour." Each Justice is also Judge of one of the 
Circuit Courts. 

The Court meets annually on the first Monday in December 
at Washington. The principal officers, besides the Justices, are 
the Attorney General, a Clerk, Deputy Clerk, Keporter, Mar- 
shal, and Crier. 

The first Chief Justice was John Jay of New York, appointed 
Sepjj 26, 1789; and the first court term was held in New York 
City, Feb. 1790. Jay was afterwards appointed Envoy Extraor- 
dinary to England, in 1794, and resigned the office of chief 
justice. 

John Eutledge, of South Carolina, was appointed in 1795, 
by President Washington, during a recess of the Senate. He 
presided on the bench at August term 1795. His nomination 
was rejected by the Senate, Dec. 15, 1795. William Cushing, 
of Massachusetts, one of the Associate Justices, was then ap- 
pointed and his appointment confirmed by the Senate, Jan. 27, 
1796 ; but he declined the office, 

Oliver Ellsworth, of Connecticut, succeeded. He was ap- 
pointed and confirmed March 4, 1796 ; and continued to preside, 



96 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

until and at the August term of 1799. He resigned, having 
accepted the position of Minister" Plenipotentiary and Envoy 
Extraordinary to France, and proceeded on his mission Nov. 3, 
1799. John Jay, of New York, was again appointed and con- 
firmed, Dec. 19, 1800 ; but he declined the re-appointment. 

John Marshall, of Virginia, nominated by President John 
Adams, was confirmed Jan. 27, and appointed Jan. 31, 1801. 
At the time of his appointment he was Secretary of State, and 
continued to act in that capacity, conjointly discharging the 
duties of his new ofl&ce, until the termina^bi of Mr. Adams' 
administration, March 3, 1801. Chief JuOTice Marshall died 
in 1835. 

Roger B. Taney, of Maryland, succeeded. He was nomina- 
ted by President Andrew Jackson, confirmed and appointed 
March 15, 1836. He died in Washington City, Oct. 12, 1864. 

Salmon P. Chase, of Ohio, Ex-Secretary of the Treasury, 
nominated by President Abraham Lincoln, was confirmed by an 
unanimous vote of the Senate, Dec. 6 ; and took the oath of 
office as Chief Justice, Dec. 15, 1864. 



The following items, relative to the first meetings of the 
Supreme Court in Washington, copied from a file of "The Na- 
tional Intelligencer," that belongs to the Library of Congress, 
will probably interest the reader. 3k 

In the issue of Monday, Jan. 26, 1801, under the head of 
the Congressional Proceedings, is the following : 

" House of Representatives, Friday, Jan. 23, 1801. 

" Mr. Rutledge from the joint committee to whom had been 
referred the letter from the Commissioners of the City of Wash- 
ington, requesting the use of an apartment in the Capitol, for 
the accommodation of the Supreme Court of the United States, 
reported, that it would be expedient to assign a room on the 
lower floor of that building." 

Again, under date of Monday, Feb. 2, 1801, it is stated : 

" The Supreme Court of the United States this day met in 
the Capitol, and adjourned without transacting any business." 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 97 

In the next issue, Feb. 4, 1801, (for this paper was then a tri- 
weekly,) is printed this announcement : 

"The justices of the Supreme Court have made a Court — 
the following justices being present, viz, Messrs. Marshall, 
Gushing, Chase, and Washington." 

During the first session of Congress, in Washington, in 1800, 
'01, both houses, as well as the Supreme Court, met in the "old 
North wing " of the original Capitol. The newspaper file to 
which I have alluded, in several of its early numbers, complains 
of the unfitting accommodations afforded the reporters of the 
press in the House of Kepresentatives. The grievance seems 
to them direful as if it were a national calamity. 

At this period the ground at the foot of Capitol Hill was a 
quagmire, and the resort of numerous aquatic birds. Where 
the city now is, were woods, morass, or farmland. The Hon. 
John Cotton Smith, of Connecticut, writing home from Washing- 
ton at this time, says, of its appearance on his arrival, and of 
after improvements : " Only one wing of the Capitol has been 
erected, which, with the President's House, a mile distant from 
it, both constructed with white sandstone, were shining objects 
in dismal contrast with the scene around them. * * * Pennsylva- 
nia Avenue, leading, as laid do^vn on paper, from the Capitol 
to the Presidential mansion, was then nearly the whole distance 
a deep morass, covered with alder bushes, which were cut through 
the width of the intende d avenue during the ensuing Winter." 



On the west side of the vestibule of the Supreme Court 
Room are the offices of the Clerk of the Court. There are 
also other rooms appropriated to the use of the justices, one 
of which is the robe room. 

Passing these, the corridor conducts into the North Extension 
of the Capitol, and terminates opposite the south entrance door 
of the Senate Chamber. 

Here the south corridor of the Senate running east and west 
crosses it, leading to the east and west corridors, from which the 
grand marble staircases ascend to the galleries of the Senate. 



98 THEFEDKRALCITY. 

On the opposite page is a Diagram of the Plan of the Main 
Floor of the Capitol. With a little study I think its prin- 
cipal divisions can be understood. 

This " main floor " is the second story of the building, and is 
reached from the East Front by steps that ascend to the three 
Porticoes of that front. There are also staircases inside the 
building, by which it can be gained, on every side, from the 
ground floor. 

The "Eotunda" is the circular chamber in the centre, from 
which doors open north, south, east, and west. 

The North Door leads towards a small circular chamber after 
which the corridor forms the vestibule to the " United States 
Supreme Court Room " lying on its east side. This room is of 
semicircular shape, and was formerly the Senate Chamber. 

Opposite, on the west side of the corridor, are rooms appro- 
priated to the officers of the court. 

. Continuing along the corridor you enter the North Extension 
of the Capitol, in the centre of which is the " Senate Chamber," 
surrounded by corridors, upon which also open various rooms. 
The Senate Chamber can be easily indicated by the several rows 
of semi-circular seats marked in the Diagram. 

The floors of the new corridors are laid with tiles of varied 
patterns. These are imitated in the Diagram. 

Eeturning to the Rotunda, and leaving it by the South Door 
3'"0u at once find yourself in the vestibule of the Old Hall of 
Representatives, Then succeeds the "Old Hall" itself. Its 
columns are marked by dots in the Diagram. 

Passing this Hall you enter the South Corridor, through the 
Rogers' Bronze Door, and reach the New Hall of Representa- 
tives situated in the centre of the South Extension of the Capi- 
itol. The floor of this immense room is marked by various 
semicircular ranges of seats. Corridors, as in the case of the 
Senate Chamber, surround the New Hall of the House, and 
where practicable rooms border the opposite sides, 

The East Door of the Rotunda opens on the Central Portico. 

The West Door leads towards the Library of Congress, that 

occupies the Western side of the central portion of the Capitol. 



PLAN OF THE MAIN FLOOR OF THE CAPITOL, 




SOUTH. 



fHE FEDERAL CITY. 101 

powers' statue of franklin 

Stands in a niche at the foot of the staircase that leads to the 
Ladies' Gallery from the East corridor of the Senate. 

It is wonderfully grand. One becomes silent, and awed, 
gazing thus, as it were, face to face, on the great American 
philosopher and statesman. It seems no longer stone ; but a 
something of thought, of power. At times I have been startled 
while looking at it, by the thought ■ — I am almost afraid to 
mention — ^^that old Mr. Worldly Wiseman had walked out of 
Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and was standing there instead. 

Franklin stands beside a tree's trunk rived by lightning — 
his elbow resting on it, and his hand gently pressed against 
his chin — his countenance indicating absorbed thought. 
The other hand is half inserted in the side pocket of his coat — 
such a coat as was the fashion in those days. The naturalness 
and ease of position is admirable. 

The hands are wonderful ; in them each vein is delicately 
visible, and they look so life-like that you are surprised they 
remain motionless, and do not change their position. All the 
details of the workmanship are carried out into the minutest 
particulars, and constantly excite astonished admiration. 

The cost of this statue was $10,000, the same as that of its 
companion one, of Jefferson, in the House Extension. 

With this work of Powers before us, the regret will arise, 
that his great " Statue of America " now in the artist's studio 
at Florence, is not sheltered underneath the roof of the Capitol. 
Greenough speaking of it, has said, " It is not only a beautiful 
work of art; but 'breathes, smacks, and smells' of Repub- 
licanism and Union. If placed conspicuously in one of the 
new wings of the Capitol, it would be a monument of Union." 

A large painting by Rembrandt Peale, of " General Wash- 
ington, on horseback, giving orders to commence the entrench- 
ments before Yorktown, accompanied by La Fayette, Hamilton, 
Knox, Lincoln, and Rochambeau," hangs immediately opposite 
the statue of Franklin. It is not the property of government, 
although the Senate at one time voted $4,500 for its purchase. 



102 THB FEDERAL CITY. 

THE PICTURE OF THE "STORMING OF 
CHAPULTEPEC." 

At the foot of the white marble staircase that ascends from 
the Western corridor of the Senate, stands a statue of John 
Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, by Stone.* 

Fronting this statue, but above the landing of the staircase, 
hangs the fine painting on canvas of the " Storming of Chapul- 
tepec," by Walker. It was priginally intended for the Room 
of the Committee on Military Affairs, and is of the same shape, 
though somewhat larger, as the frescoed panels in that elabor- 
ately adorned room. The top of the picture describes an ex- 
tended semicircle. The cost of this painting was $6,000. 

The Castle of Chapultepec, a Mexican fortress, was stormed 
by the Americans, under General Scott, Sept. 13, 1847. Our 
army, proceeding from victory to victory, had defeated the 
enemy in five pitched battles, and now lay under the walls of 
the city of Mexico. This ancient city lies in the centre of a 
plain in which are numerous volcanic heights. On one of these, 
about two miles south west of the city, rose this strong castle, 
with a frontage of 900 feet heavily armed. It was held by Gen- 
eral Bravo, with a picked force ; and, at the time of the assault, 
was crowded with ofiicers of rank, and students of the military 
academy of which it was also the seat. The position was diffi 
cult of attack and easy to be defended. 

The plan of operations was this : General Pillow was to as- 
sault it on its west side ; General Quitman on the opposite, or 
south east side ;■ while the reserve, under General Worth, was to 
gain the north side. At the base of the hill Pillow was disa- 
bled, and General Cadwallader took command. 

Amid discharges of grape and musketry, that thinned their 
ranks, the Americans ascended the height. Without hesitation 
they charged and carried a strong redoubt that lay in their way, 
and drove the Mexicans from their guns into the castle. " In a 
moment the castle ditch was crossed, and the stormers planted 
their ladders on the wall. Many brave fellows were hurled 
down, but at length a lodgment was effected." 

* The cost of this statue was $6,000 00. 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 103 

Mr. Walker has selected as the scene of his picture, " The 
consultation held between General Quitman and several of the 
ofi&cers of his advanced division at the time the batteries at 
the foot of the hill, on his side of the attack, were taken, and the 
way opened towards the city, along the line of the aqueduct, 
in the direction of the Garita (gate) de Belen." 

He was himself a participant in the Mexican campaign, and 
the geography of the picture has been pronounced by judges 
photographically correct. The drawing of the various groups 
is admirable ; and, after looking for awhile attentively at the 
figures — of which there are scores — they seem to stand out 
from the surface, as objects appear to project when looked at 
through a stereoscope. 

Looming up against the sky is the famous Castle ; a war- 
cloud of smoke sweeping off from over it in the direction of the 
city. Two fleecy pufis of smoke, that mark the bursting of 
shells, are hovering there, too ; while, dotted over the rugged 
precipice of volcanic formation, on which the fortress stands, 
are United States' riflemen, who are profiting by the shelter of 
every available rock and ravine to pick off the Mexican gun- 
ners that are defending the wall beneath them. A thick line 
of smoke, ascending the whole length of the height, marks also 
the path up which our brave soldiers fight their way. 

General Quitman is on horseback, some distance to the left 
of the centre of the picture. He wears the fatigue uniform of 
his rank, with a broad visored cap. General Shields, without 
his coat, his left arm in a sling, it havinor been wounded earlier 
in the battle, is engaged in conversation with him. Near them 
are Lieutenants Wilcox, and Towers, of the Engineers, Danly, 
of Arkansas, and other aides-de-camp, nearly all of them 
wounded. 

On the left side of the canvas is a section of Drum's Battery, 
surrounded by artillerymen, with Captain Drum, and Lieuten- 
ants Benjamin and Hunt. Behind this group, crossing the field, 
towards a breach in the wall, are seen the flags of New York, 
Pennsylvania, and South Carolina, borne by their regiments of 



104: THE FEDERAL CITY. 

volunteers, as they advance under Colonels Baxter, Geary, and 
Gladding. A galling fire is poured into them from the top of 
the wall which was used by the Mexicans as a parapet — they 
standing on a platform erected on the inner side. These troops 
are advancing to the support of the regulars under Captain 
Casey, who himself was wounded and disabled before reaching 
the works. Occupying the foreground, and as a relief to the 
general character of this section of the picture, is a dog, admi- 
rably painted, smelling at a hat, lying ownerless, on the ground. 

Another supporting column is seen more towards the centre 
of the canvas, with Adjutant Lovell dashing off to its front. 
These gallant soldiers are making their way to a point 
further on, along the road, where a white flag is flying over a 
" Five gun Battery," that our troops have just captured. The 
Mexican leader, Xicontenca, in whose veins ran the blood of the 
royal Montezuma race, and who was said to be their last male 
descendant, was killed while aiding to work one of the guns 
and refusing to surrender. 

In the middle distance is seen General Persifer Smith, with 
the rifle regiment, in front of the breast works. He is pointing 
towards the Mexicans, who are in full retreat along the line of 
the aqueduct, but are still keeping up 'a t'- tering fire. 

In the foreground, conspicuous in the centre of the picture, 
another part of the supporting column is attempting to cross 
one of the ditches by which the road is flanked on either side. 
They are exposed to a fire, under which some of them are fall- 
ing, but their officers are urging them forward. One bold fel- 
low seems to be giving a wild hurrah, while the attention of 
another is attracted by the distress of a poor Mexican woman 
who is supporting the gasping form of her dying husband. She 
has a little child on her back, secured by a scarf, such as are 
worn almost universally by the lower order of Mexican women. 
On the edge of the ditch lies a Mexican soldier, wounded in the 
leg. Near these soldiers stands an immense aloe, some of whose 
gigantic leaves are hacked with sabre strokes. 

Another group of Mexicans are seen farther to the right. 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 105 

They are making signs of submission and surrender to a 
fierce-looking fellow who is hastening past, loading his musket 
as he goes. On the extreme right, is an officer on horseback 
Avho appears arrested by movements on the road. 

In compiling the above description of this picture I have 
been greatly indebted to an article that appeared in the " Wash- 
ington Daily Chronicle," of Dec. 24, 1862, which was about 
the time it was first hung up in the Capitol. 

Mr. James Walker, the artist, is a native of the state of New 
Y^ork. When a young man he pushed his fortune south, and 
resided one season in New Orleans. At the time the Mexican 
war broke out, he was practising his art of painting in the 
city of Mexico. 

The Mexican general, Lorabardini, who had been severely 
wounded in the battle of Buena Vista, was, after that action, 
made Governor of the city of Mexico. ^ 

After the victorious American army had obtained possession 
of Puebla, an Edict of Expulsion was issued by this Mexican 
general, banishing all American residents in the capital three 
hundred miles back into the interior, and allowing them twenty- 
four hours to settle up their affairs and be gone. Mr. Walker 
remained with fri« • . aid six weeks in the city, until he was 
able, on a dark night, to make his escape, in company with a 
naval officer, who was a prisoner of war. The two, at length, 
with difficulty, and through unfrequented roads, reached the 
American lines. The officer was placed "on staff," and Mr. 
Walker served as " interpreter to the army," accompanying it 
in its victorious march back to the city he had so lately left. 

He Avas present at the batttes in the valley, and remained at 
his post during our occupation of the capital. In 1848 he re- 
turned home after an absence of eight years. 

Subsequently, he visited Central America, but, since 1850, he 
has been engaged in the study and practice of his profession in 
New York City. Several of his pictures are in the possession 
of the War Department ; and it was in 1857, he received the 
order to paint the picture of " The Battle of Chapultepec." 



106 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

THE SENATE CHAMBER 

Occupies the centre of the North extension of the Capitol. 

Its entrance from the inside of the building is at the end of a 
long corridor extending north from the Rotunda. 

The main entrance from the outside is by the North Eastern 
Portico, through a spacious marble vestibule adorned with 
fluted columns, whose capitals are beautifully foliated with 
tobacco and acanthus leaves. The walls of this vestibule on 
either side have sunken niches for statuary. 

The Senate chamber is surrounded by corridors, which sep- 
arate it from committee and other rooms ranged around the 
outer walls of this portion of the building. 

The chamber is a parallelogram 112 feet long and 82 feet 
wide. Its height is 36 feet. A cushioned gallery capable of 
seating a thousand persons surrounds it, which is reached by 
two magnificent marble staircases, ascending from the east and 
west corridors. A section of the gallery in front of the Vice 
President's desk is reserved for the diplomatic corps and for the 
families of the President, Vice President, and cabinet ministers. 
Above but behind the Vice President's seat a portion of the 
gallery is appropriated to the reporters of the press. 

The secretary of the Senate and his assistants occupy a long 
desk in front of the chair, and below this desk sit the special 
reporters of the debates. The seats of the Senators are ranged 
in three semicircular rows fronting the Vice President's chair, 
each seat having a desk in front of it. 

The ceiling is of cast iron, with deep panels, and painted 
glass sky-lights, ornamented in the richest style. The designs 
of the paintings are typical of national progress. The iron 
work is bronzed and gilded, and the walls are richly painted in 
harmonizing colors. 

The space under the galleries is partitioned off into small 
apartments, such as cloak and wash rooms, and the area of the 
floor is diminished to that extent. It is about 83 feet long, and 
61 feet wide. 



THE FEDERAL CITY. 107 

The United States' Senate first occupied the new chamber 
Jan. 4, 1859 ; and, it was in this room the Senators from the 
rebel States acted the melancholy farce, they denominated " a 
sublime spectacle," of withdrawing from the Council Chamber 
of their country 



The Senate is composed of two Senators from each State. 
They are chosen for six years, but in such a way, that, as near 
as may be, " one third of the whole number is chosen every 
second year." The Constitution provides for this arrangement 
in these words : Art. I. Sec. 3. " Immediately after they [the 
Senators] shall be assembled in consequence of the first election, 
they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. 
The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at 
the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the ex- 
piration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the ex- 
piration of the sixth year, so that one third may be chosen 
every second year." 

This division into classes, was first arranged by "drawing 
lots ; " and, when a new State is admitted, the early Senators 
" draw lots," deciding their length of term. 

The appearance, and demeanor, of the Senate is a marked 
contrast to that of the other branch of Congress. The House 
might, perhaps, be designated as the " Young America " of our 
representation ; the Senate, as an Assembly of the " Elders of 
the People " met in grave council. Some of the Senators are 
middle-aged men, and one or two — as for instance the Ex- 
Governor of Ehode Island — are still young-looking ; but the 
majority are grey or bald headed, with seamed and wrinkled 
faces. To look at them, the conclusion is irresistible, that the 
road to political eminence is not a flowery path of dalliant de - 
lights, but a hard stony road to travel. 

These old men sit at their desks, ranged in three semi-circles, 
in their magnificent chamber, with papers and writing mate- 
rials laid before them, while the light as it falls upon their 
heads through the painted sky-light in the roof, deceptively 



108 THE FEDERAL CITY. 

makes them look ten years younger than they really are. In 
ihe deep galleries, resting in shadow, crowds of men and women 
are sitting too, eager to catch every word that drops from them ; 
while telegrams, with lightning sped, and presses, with million 
voices, repeat their words all over the land, until their sound 
reaches foreign shores, and sweeps round the world. 

In the usual routine of Senate session you might imagine this 
venerable body was a company of clerks thrown together in this 
large chamber — for each one appears much absorbed in his own 
particular business, writing for the most part assiduously, and 
seeming to pay little attention to what is said by the person ad- 
dressing the Vice President. But, let a single word be spoken, 
relative to a particular State, and, at that moment, the greyheads 
that represent it, assume attitudes of the profoundest attention. 
These old men are alert as eagles, and are always vigilantly on 
guard when they deem an interest of their State is in jeopardy. 

A more picturesque and interesting sight is seldom presented 
than that of an animated night session of the Senate. A light 
burning brightly upon the roof, and throwing around it a hazy 
glow that to a stranger would seem to indicate "the roof of that 
Extension of the Capitol was on fire ! " is significant to the city 
''the Senate is in session." This light is that of hundreds of 
burning jets of gas (also roofed in by glass) above the sky-light 
of the Senate Chamber, that light it up at night time. Above 
them, on its high flag-staff, floats the "Old Flag." On a dark 
moonless night, these lights, from below shining up upon it 
streaming against the sky, make the "Stripes and Stars " seem 
a bright Rainbow up among the clouds. 

Within, through the illumined glass, painted with the Signs 
and Emblems of Progress, the bright light from the gas-jets 
flames down into the Chamber, filling it with a soft rich glow, 
so peculiar in its beauty that there is nothing to compare it with 
and it must be seen to know how very beautiful it is. 

And, then, the debate. It is all like looking on at, and hear- 
ing a marvelous play. The actors, men who have toiled the best 
part of their lives to gain this arena wherein to play their parts. 



FEDEEAL CITY; 



OB, 



Ins and Abouts of Washington. 



AUTHOR OF "HARRY BRIGHT, THE DRDMMEB BOY;" "BIBLE STORIES IN 
BIBLE WORDS," ETC., KTC. 



THIRD EDITION. 



WASH INGTON, D. C: 

(IiBSON Brothers, 271 and 273 Pennsylvania Avenue. 
1 8G8. 



WHOLESALE AGENT FOR WASHINGTON: 
WIST. BAL,1L,A]VTY]VE, Bookseller and Stationer, 

Ifitellteetteep Bujtdlng. 



©KWBSr®^ 



CHAPTER T . 

Arrival in Baltimore en route for Washington — Daybreak — Cathedral service — 

Railroad ride to Washington — Concert in Capitol grounds — Eastern and 

Western Fronts of the Capitol — Statue of Freedom — Twilight and night — 

Alone — Phantasmagoria Pagel*? 

C H A P T E R II . 
General Plan of the city — Unimproved ground east of the Capitol — East Cen- 
tral Portico — Statuary — Signor Persico — Greenough — Great Bronze Door 
designed by Rogers — East Capitol Street — Military aspect of Washington — 
Streaks of war-paint Pages'? 

CHAPTER III. 
The Capitol — Congress — Old Hall of Representatives — First Hall destroyed by 
the British — New Hall of Representatives — Picture of General Scott — Statue 
of Jefferson by Powers — Bronze cast of an Indian Chief — Leutzc's picture of 
" Western Emigration " — The two artists Franzoni — Diagrams of the floor of 
the House of Representatives and of the United States Senate Chamber.. Page CG 

CHAPTER IV. 
Crowning of the Dome — The Extensions — First and Second Senate Cliambers — 
Supreme Court Room — Diagram of the main floor of the Capitol — Powers' 
statue of Franklin — Peale's picture of " AVashington on Horseback before 
Yorktown " — Stone's statue of Hancock — Walkers picture of the ''Storming 
of Chapultepec" — The new Senate Chamber — Night session, etc., etc. .Page ST 



Mil ®l Utaslffafloiis* 

Frontispiece. Cramtord's statue of Freedom, crowning the Dome of the United 

States Capitol. 
Photograjih of the uorth-east view of tlie Capitol, with the Central Portico 
projected as it is designed to be when completed ; taken from a drawing Ly 

A. Schonborn, in possession of the Architect of the Capitol Pago 14 

Photograph of the west front of the Capitol, 1868 to face Page 22 

The Caiiitolof 1868, east front Page 27 

Map of the City of Washington Pages 34, 35 

Allegorical group on Tympiuium of Central East Portico Page 4.') 

Statue of Peace, by Persico Page 48 

Statue of War, by Persico Page 40 

Clock in old Hall of Representatives, by C. Franzoni Page 52 

Diagram of the Rogers' Bronze Door Page 54 

The Capitol of 1825 Page 75. 

Diagram of the floor of the Hall of the House of Representatives Page 87 

Diagram of the floor of the United States Senate Chamber Page 89 

Plan of the main floor of the Capitol Page 90 



I 



451 SEVENTH STREET, 

Directly Opposite the Eastern Entrance to the Patent-Office, 



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'lelatinof, ta afifilicxtian^ iai '2P.itentA citAci in tkiA 
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'^aent. 

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"iiActt 'lf€ acuen lu-Acn ieauaed. 



SEINED FOR A CIRCULAR 



For Sale in the Capitol : 

®lje JfAtral ODit]); or, |ns mx^ ^kuts of SSas^injton: 

BY S. X) "V^-X^ETII. 

Published by Gibson Brothers, 271 Pennsylvania Avenue. 

ORDERS FOR THE BOOK SUPPLIED BY THE PUBLISHERS. PRICE $1.00 A NUMBER. 



FrMn the " Washington Chronicle." 
"We have from the publishers, 'The Federal City; or, Ins and Abouts of Wash- 
ington, BY S. D. Wyeth,' and very cheerf' Uy do we say of this brochure^ that it is the 
very best we have ever read of the kind. If the wretched catch-penny publications about 
Washington and the Federal Capital could be collected and committed to the flames, it 
would be a public service; especially now, when the District of Columbia has entered 
upon a new career, and when everything written or done about it should be carefully 
written and thoughtfully done. These pages are evidently the work of a scholar. There 
is no bombast, and no straining for fine writing; but evident industry and a desire to be 
accurate. The type, paper, printing, etc., are indicative of a determination to make the 
work standard. We copy in our present issue, as a specimen of the descriptive powers 
of Mr. Wyeth, his sketch of the United States Senate." 

From the " National Intelligencer." 

"We have received the first number of 'The Federal City; or, Ins and Abouts 
OF Washington, by S. D. Wyeth.' It is printed in large type, on fine paper, and 
liberally illustrated. 

"The author's style is clear and graceful, and he has given us, within a hundred pages, 
a vast amount of information — historical, statistical, and reflective — which will not 
only serve as an efficient guide for all visitors to the capital, but must be very valuable as 
a permanent work, for reference, for all time to come. The illustrations are beautifully 
executed, and a true taste is exhibited in making the three principal embellishments fine 
photographic views. 

" We have read this book with care, and are, therefore, prepared to pronounce it not 
only accurate, and hence instructive, but very pleasing, and to predict for it an extensive 
circulation; for, as it is recorded in the opening lines: 'The city of Washington is far 
dearer to the nation's heart now than it was before the breaking out of the rebellion. 
The treasure expended, and the blood spilled in its defence, have made it seem, to 
patriots, sacred as a shrine. "To want to know all about it" is a national longing, and 
to gratify this, in some degree, is the design of the present book.'" 

^ From the "Washington Evening Star." 

'"The F^^al City; or, In-s and Abouts of Washington, by S. D. Wyeth,' is 
published in admirable style by Gibson Brothers. It is both readable and useful, con- 
taining a large amount of new material agreeably presented." 

From the "National Tiepublican." 

"Mr. Wyeth, in the 'Federal City,' gives a description of everything of public 
interest in and about the city of Washington. The work will be an invaluable one both 
at home and abroad." 

From the "Sunday-School Times." 

"The first instalment of 'The Federal City,' io8 handsomely printed 8vo pages, 
gives promise of a work of considerable interest. Mr. Wyeth informs us it is to con- 
sist of the following parts: I. The Book of the Capitol; 2. The White House and 
its Inmates; 3. Book of the Departments; 4. Book of the Hospit.ils; 5. Institutions 
of Benevolence, Learning, etc." 

From the "United States Service Magazine." 
"This is a work of practical value, useful to those who are going to Washington, as a 
Guide Book where and how to go about; and very pleasant to those who have been 
there, by means of it to recall the truly beautiful and magnificent things the city contains." 

From the "Philadelphia Dispatch." 
"In the 'Federal City' Mr. Wyeth designs to thoroughly detail its history — from 
its original foundation down to the present time — describing its public buildings and public 
men, and giving a complete idea of what the city has been, and what it is. It is finely 
illustrated with photographs, engravings, maps, and diagrams. Mr. Wyeth has sterling 
abilities for this task : among them are patient industry, tact in making investigation, 
and a clear, scholarly, and lively style of narration. His book will become the standard 
historical authority in relation to all matters connected with the National Capital." 



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